35 
Steen Christensen are particularly illuminating (see for example the 
pelicans, Agulla eagles and gulls). The 40 colour plates are bound 
together in the middle of the book, and show all those species and 
subspecies which until now had to be searched for in a variety of 
handbooks, journals and obscure literature. It is indeed a pleasure 
to carry a book in which you cannot only find a detailed description 
of the Swift Tern, but also of Sind Pied Woodpecker, Small Skylark, 
Yemen Thrush, Upcher's Warbler, Streamed Weaver and Yemen Serin. 
Where appropriate, mal?, female and juvenile plumages are shown, as 
are subspecies tiypLcal f jr the area. This compilation jf knowledge, 
hard-won over decades, will tfi refore be an indispensable source of 
reference to birdwatchers */isiting the area. 
But it is not all hail and praise. Firstly, the introductory 
chapter lasts only two and a half pages, only explaining the 
headings used for the species accounts. For an interesting area 
like North Africa and the Middle East lyin^ at the junction of three 
continents and including many desert-dwelling species, this is a 
missed opportunity to give a short introduction to geographical 
distribution and ecological adaptations. Of course, these subjects 
have been dealt with in others books, but why not try to educate a 
monoraaniacal puolic like birders? 
Secondly, the colour plates are not fully satisfactory. Being well 
aware of the preponderance of desert-inhabiting species, and of 
their generally washed-out appearance, I still think that the 
palette of Ian Willis lacks the necessary gradations in brown, green 
and grey. Moreover, there are quite a few discrepancies between 
text and plates, particularly when dealing with the warblers (though 
1 must adm.it to having checked only a few species) . Warblers are 
extremely difficult to paint, which should have been an extra reason 
to delegate this task to a specialist. Minutiae like colouration of 
bill, legs, superciliura, wingbar and edgings of feathers, shape of 
the head and bill, extension and form of supercilium etc are 
all-important when dealing with nondescript warblers. Many of the 
aforementioned serai-trifles are wrongly depicted in for example 
Blyth's Reed Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Great Reed 'Varbler, 
Upcher's Warbler and Hume's Lesser Whitethroat (the latter is not 
even recognisable as such), just to mention a few. These problems 
are enhanced by the scale of reproduction (much too small"* . 
Whenever there is doubt whether to follow tiie text or the plate, It 
is preferable to rely on the text. 
Whatever the criticisms, the publisher must be complimented on his 
modest use of superlatives in his advertisement; lie must have been 
acquainted with the Dutch saying "excellent wine does not need a 
garland". The four authors/artists are to be congratulated with 
having set a landmark, which hopefully ends the over-production of 
mediocre field guides and lieralds an era of quality. 
Rob Bijlsma 
