African Bird Club 
African Ornithology has long needed a focus for gathering 
information on a continental basis and making it more accessible 
to both resident and overseas birders. From January 1 1994, the 
African Bird Club will perform this function and in addition will: 
■ foster an interest in bird conservation in the region 
■ promote and work with local African societies 
■ produce a twice-yearly colour bulletin, featuring identification papers 
and site guides 
■ encourage visits to lesser- known parts of the region 
■ locate and publish information on globally threatened and near- 
threatened species 
■ develop a Conservation Research Fund 
Anyone can join. The standard membership rate is £12 per year. The ABC is also 
seeking Founder Members to fund its launch and first year of operation. Founder 
Membership is available as a one-off payment of £30 and includes the first year's 
subscription. 
For a membership leaflet, please contact: The Membership Secretary, The 
African Bird Club, c/o BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, 
Cambridge CB3 ONA, UK. 
Reviews 
del Hoyo J, Elliott A & Sargatal J (eds.) (1992) Handbook of the 
Birds of the World Vol 1 Lynx Edicions, Barcelona pp696 
price £95.00 
Just as the Birds of the Western Palearctic enters its final volume, so this new, 
more ambitious tome makes its appearance. Planned to run to ten volumes and 
covering all of the world's bird species, this first volume sets a high standard 
which if maintained will ma ke th i s series an outstanding source of reference. The 
colour photographs in themselves virtually justify the price and are equally 
matched by the quality of the colour plates, though I must confess that I found the 
divers and grebes floating in mid-air a bit off-putting. 
The first 70 or so pages are ta ken up with an overview of the project and a general 
introduction to the Class Aves , the latter covering the general biological aspects 
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