supplemented by precise line drawings. This is fine for specimens in the hand, 
in our case those found dead as road casualties etc or caught by live-trapping. 
However, for field identification (and it must be noted that this is not always 
possible) it would have been useful especially for the various genera of rats, 
gerbils and mice to have an accurate line drawing of each species. Some species 
are illustrated by line drawings but these are of variable quality. Photographs of 
museum skins are given for some species but as is often the case when using such 
material it is difficult to display clearly features useful for identification and any 
idea of 'jizz' is totally lost. A small selection of good field photographs are 
included but then this book is not attempting to be a 'field guide. 7 and really does 
contain an immense amount of information making it the standard reference 
book for the mammalia found in the region. 
The distribution maps are based on actual records of species which are plotted 
individually. I prefer this method of accurate distributional display of known 
range to the 'blanket shading' technique. Precise locality information is given in 
many cases. 
The 'remarks' section for each species covers their basic ecology and biology and 
much useful information is given. It is apparent that for many species little is 
known and there is still much to be learnt about these. 
In short if you are a resident in, or are visi ting Arabia, and are seriously interested 
in its mammals then this book is crucial. You must have it or be able to refer to 
it, there is no other book covering this region comparable to it. 
David Showier 
Recently published 
Four items have been received by the Library which will be of interest to OSME 
members: 
Shirihai, H & Bahat, O (1992) Birdwatching in the Deserts of Israel - a guide to 
birdwatching sites from Beersheba south to Eilat. For more information contact 
the Israel Ornithological Center, 155 Herzl Street, Tel-Aviv 68101, Israel or the 
International Birdwatching Center Eilat, PO Box 774, Eilat 88106, Israel. 
Kirwan, G (1993) Birds of Tu rkey 9: Hotamis Marshes - the latest booklet in the 
series, available from OSME (see enclosed Sales list). 
Peter, H (1990) Waldrappdammerung am Euphrat - a booklet, in German, on the 
Bald Ibis at Birecik in Turkey. Details from Max Kasparek, Bleichstrasse 1, 6900 
Heidelberg, Germany. 
Oddie, B & Moore, D (1993) A Birdwatchers Guide to the Birds of Cyprus - a site 
guide and checklist for the birds of Cyprus. Available from Derek Moore, c/o 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Brooke House, The Green, Ashbocking, Nr. Ipswich, 
Suffolk, IP6 9JY. Proceeds from the sale of this guide are going to the Laona 
Project which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of ecologically-sound 
development of the Akamas Peninsula and Laona Plateau. 
38 
