This book gives a fascinating account of the reasoning behind the Latin names given to reptiles, mammals and birds. The first section of the book explains the system of classification started by the Swedish naturalist Linneaus. It then sets out the Orders and Families of reptiles, birds, and mammals and describes the meaning of the Latin names of over 4000 individual species. There is a translation of the Latin name, and a brief explanation of the reason for giving a species that particular name. There are also separate indexes that give the common and Latin names of all the species included in the book.