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 of BEEP: The Definitive Guide is a coyote, a name derived from the Aztec coyotl. Its Latin name, Canis latrans, means "barking dog"-- a tribute to its reputation as one of the most vocal mammals in North America. The coyote howls and yips to communicate with family members and to signal its presence to other coyotes. The coyote is the most widely distributed large predator in North America. Its amazing adaptability has led to the coyote's being one of the few mammals whose range is increasing in spite of human encroachment. Although a native of the American desert and plains, the coyote's range now includes Alaska's North Slope, the Guatemalan highlands, and the forests of New England. Extermination of the wolf in central and northern America significantly aided the coyote's spread.
The coyote's eating habits are as versatile as its habitats. Primarily carnivorous (90% of their diet), coyotes consume large amounts of carrion if fresh meat isn't available. They also eat birds, snakes, leaves, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and garbage.
Coyotes are intelligent and wily hunters. They sometimes form "hunting partnerships" with the badger -- the coyote locating rodents with its keen sense of smell and the badger digging them up with its powerful claws. The partners then share the catch.
The coyote continues to threaten livestock herds, as well as family pets. On the other hand, with pelts valued at about $17 each, coyotes face even greater threats from hunters. Jane Ellin was the production editor and proofreader for BEEP: The Definitive Guide. David Futato was the copyeditor. Colleen Gorman provided quality control. Phil Dangler, Sue Willing, Darren Kelly, and Sheryl Avruch provided production support. Johnna VanHoose Dinse wrote the index.
Ellie Volckhausen designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is from Animal Creations, Volume I. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.
David Futato designed the interior layout. Neil Walls converted the files from XML to FrameMaker 5.5.6 using tools created by Mike Sierra, as well as tools written in Perl by Erik Ray, Jason McIntosh, and Neil Walls. 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. This colophon was written by Sheryl Avruch.
