A fascinating book. The style can be a mite tacky: for example, Downer - or one of the editors - feels compelled to stick in the word "SuperNatural" - with caps - as often as possible. The thinking here is presumably "let's insinuate the brand name into the reader's mind". Aargh. There's sometimes a whiff of the presentational style you get on 'Terrors of the Deep' (with the execrable Montel Williams) or 'Stunts gone bad' (grisly & compelling viewing). He also has weaknesses in some areas of science: for example, he says that chimps are believed to induce abortions if their populations are too high. This flies in the face of what is known of natural selection - selfish genes couldn't care less about overpopulation. If chimpanzees do sometimes abort their foetuses, I would be interested to know the real reason.

But I'm being too tough. The book's flaws are more than redeemed by its remarkable content. It should actually be called "superhuman" (or "SuperHuman"), since it brims with weird and hugely fascinating details about what animals can do that humans can't.

'Supernatural' should be approached with a certain degree of caution; on the plus side, it is very intriguing, informative and enjoyable.

Click here to buy it ($14.36).