of birds plus short sections on classification, migration and evolution. The 
remainder of volume 1 then goes on to give information on all bird families from 
Ostrich to swans - a total of 541 species. 
Each Family is prefaced by an introduction giving an overview with sections on 
systematics, morphology, general habits, relationship with Man etc and is then 
followed by the species' accounts. As would be expected in a work of this size, 
the amount of space available for these accounts is limited. However, most 
species average at least a quarter of a page including a distribution map, all of 
which are remarkably clear despite the size limitations. Species accounts cover 
taxonomy, distribution, descriptive notes, habitat, food and feeding, breeding, 
movements, status and conservation, and a bibliography. The Status sections 
give global population estimates together with trends where known. Rare, 
Endangered and species whose status is Insufficiently Known are highlighted 
along with brief details of th e co nserva ti on work required or currently underway. 
Together these give a reasonable account of each species which, when coupled 
with the bibliography, enables more detailed information to be tracked down 
easily and quickly. 
No book is perfect but the faults I have found are all minor and mostly relate to 
production rather than factual errors. The most major one is that the breeding 
distribution maps for Eider and King Eider and Harlequin Duck and Common 
Scoter are transposed, but I understand amended maps have been produced. 
In his Foreword, Christoph Imboden (Director-General of BirdLife International) 
says that 'any contribution to our knowledge of birds is an additional step 
towards ensuring their conservation.' This work promises to be a major 
contribution and the editors are to be congratulated not only on the quality of this 
first volume but for having the courage to undertake such a mammoth task. They 
deserve to succeed. 
Geoff Welch 
Harrison, Dr David L (1992) Mammals of Arabia (2nd Edition) 
price £75.00 
The recent OSME Expedition to Southern Yemen and Socotra, which ran from 
mid-March to mid-May 1993, was primarily directed towards the survey of the 
endemic and near endemic bird species of the region. During the course of the 
expedition casual records of ma m mal observations were also kept. The recently 
published 2nd edition of Dr David L Harrison's 'Mammals of Arabia' was used as 
the main source of reference for identification and additional habitat and 
ecological information. 
For identification purposes the descriptions of external characters are excellent. 
For example, I was able to make a positive identification from the remains of a 
long dead hedgehog, Paraechimis acthiopicus, by looking at the spines alone. 
For critical features of identification in themoredifficultgroupssuchasSoricidae, 
Chiroptera and Rodentia, dentition and cranial character descriptions are 
37 
