Reading about your topic in a specialized encyclopedia, dictionary, or handbook may be one of the most effective and time saving research tips. These resources can help you define unfamiliar terms, understand the parameters of current debate in a particular area, and provide you with a preliminary bibliography on the subject. Listed here are a few sources to get you started.
Encyclopedias of Animal Behavior
Encyclopedia of Evolution by 
Encyclopedia of Human Biology by 
Flora of North America by 
Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia by 
