He entered the vault, its hundreds of large white steel cabinets standing in rows like sentries, and got to work. ... Quivering beneath his fingertips were a dozen Red-ruffed Fruitcrows, gathered by naturalists and biologists over hundreds of years from the forests and jungles of South America and fastidiously preserved by generations of curators for the benefit of future research. He unzipped the suitcase and began filling it with the birds, emptying one drawer after another. He didnt know exactly how many hed be able to fit into his suitcase, but he managed forty-seven of the museums forty-eight male specimens before wheeling his bag on to the next cabinet.

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Highs and lows of human behavior in two great books: Bill Ruehlmanns picks - Daily Press