Bound in a silver-foil-embossed cloth cover with a matching ribbon marker and shimmering sprayed silver edges, this stunning volume invites readers into the hidden world of mermaids—through the eyes of a daring 19th-century explorer.

In 1872, the bold (fictional) naturalist Darcy Delamare disguised herself as a man to join the (real-life) HMS Challenger expedition. While the crew studied the mysteries of the deep, Delamare chronicled astonishing sightings of sea creatures long dismissed as myth—mermaids.

Following A Natural History of Fairies and A Natural History of Magick, this richly illustrated field guide presents Delamare’s remarkable findings: from ancient legends and folklore to eyewitness accounts and the biology, customs, and lifecycles of merfolk.

Young readers and dreamers of all ages will be enchanted as they:

• Examine the anatomy and diversity of mermaid tails

• Learn how merfolk communicate beneath the waves

• Discover how these elusive beings have remained hidden from human eyes for centuries

• Explore myths, superstitions, and sightings from around the globe

Part of the Folklore Field Guides series, this beautifully designed book blends breathtaking art with fascinating facts in a whimsical narrative form—an irresistible keepsake for lovers of magic, mythology, and the mysteries of the sea.