Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal on the cover ofLearning Wireless Java is a Senegal galago. Galagos, also called bush babies, are native to forest and bush regions of sub-Saharan Africa, including the island of Zanzibar. Galagos have lightly built bodies with long hind legs for leaping. The flattened tips of their toes are padded with thick skin for gripping tree trunks and branches, and on each of their back feet, the index toe has an extended claw for grasping. Galagos leap from branch to branch, tree to tree, sometimes jumping as far as 15 feet.
The galago has soft, woolly fur, either brown or gray in color. Its face is small and pointy, with large eyes that allow it to see well in the dark. Its large, mobile ears can move either independently or simultaneously. The combination of the galago's huge eyes and mobile ears not only give the animal its trademark quizzical expression, but also aid the nocturnal galago after dark. At night, families of up to 20 galagos defend territories 15 to 20 acres in size. When a predator approaches, the galago emits a rasping shout that sounds much like an excited child. During the day, each family crowds into an enclosed space, such as a hollowed tree trunk, to sleep.
Galagos eat mostly insects, such as grasshoppers, dung beetles, and caterpillars, but they are also quick enough to catch mice, lizards, and small birds. In addition, they eat fruit, seeds, and flowers, sometimes aiding in pollination. In some parts of Africa, the Galago senegalensis, or "lesser bush baby," is kept as a pet. Claire Cloutier was the production editor and copyeditor for Learning Wireless Java. Sue Willing was the proofreader. Ann Schirmer and Jeff Holcomb provided quality control. Judy Hoer wrote the index. Edie Shapiro, Derek Di Matteo, and Phil Dangler provided composition assistance.
Ellie Volckhausen designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from The Royal Natural History. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with Quark™XPress 4.1, using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.
Melanie Wang designed the interior layout, based on a series design by David Futato. Mihaela Maier converted the files from Microsoft Word to FrameMaker 5.5.6, using tools created by Mike Sierra. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. Linley Dolby and Rachel Wheeler wrote this colophon.
