Penguins, Pineapples and Pangolins: First Encounters with the Exotic

While perhaps less of a “reference” in the more traditional sense of the word, as this is not a book one would turn to in order to find a fact or single piece of information, this volume is still to some extent a reference work. What Cock-Starkey presents her reader with is a selection of experiences relating to the exotic natural world.

Ever wondered what happened when kangaroos were first encountered by the English in Australia? Captain William Dampier describes them as being “as big as a sheep”. What about how the first exotic fruits were discovered and tasted? The...