Author about himself:  I write extensively about ecology and natural history, especially about the ecology of the Americas, thus I have made many trips to Central and South America to study tropical ecology, especially as it applies to birds. My principal area of expertise is ornithology, thus I commit a great deal of effort watching birds, an activity in which I take much pleasure. I have studied North American migrant birds on their wintering grounds in the tropics and have led trips to many tropical regions.

Joseph E. Wright was born and educated in New England. He grew up addicted to the British cozies of Christie and Sayres and the American counterparts of Queen and Stout. He was a fan of the films noir of Hammett and Chandler. His first published novel, MEMORANDUM OF A MURDER (Manor Books) confirmed his determination to become a writer. A short story of his appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. While trying to write, Joe earned his living as editor for a couple of monthly magazines. In one period of his life, he lived in a gloomy, rambling, nineteenth century rectory in downtown Philadelphia.

Irish anthropologist, was born at Cork June 11833. He was educated at Dublin and in Rome for the Roman Catholic priesthood; but he declined to enter the Church, and devoted himself to geographical and ethnological research (see 1.44 2; 9.9 00; 22.678). He registered and classified almost every known language, and from these data worked out a system of ethnology. He edited Stanford's Compendium of Geography and, besides many papers in the journals of learned societies and in encyclopaedias, published Man, Past and Present (1899); Ethnology (1896 and later editions); The Gold of Ophir (1901), etc. He was professor of Hindustani at University College, London, till 1885. He died Feb. 3 1912.

Terence West is the author of nine novels including the best sellers Fallen Angels, Darkness, and Crusade. A Gen X refugee, he fears the day his generation will rule the world. West is currently stockpiling goods and supplies in Twin Falls, Idaho with his three dogs.