The 1981 Natural History 
Magazine Photographic 
Competition closes 
April 1. . . . See page 106. 
Alan Ternes. Editor 
Judith Friedman. Managing Editor 
Thomas Page. Designer 
Board of Editors: 
Sally Lindsay. Frederick Hartmann. 
Vittorio Maestro. Rebecca B. Finnell 
Carol Breslin. Book Reviews Editor 
Florence G. Edelstein. Copy Chief 
Rita Campon. Copy Editor 
Angela Soccodato, Art Asst. 
Kay Zakariasen. Picture Editor 
Douglas J. Preston. Publications Editor 
Susan Rosenberg. Editorial Asst. 
Lillian Berger 
Editorial Advisers: 
Malcolm Arth. James W. Alz, 
.Niles Eldredge. Kenneth L. Franklin , 
E. Craig Morris. Norman Newell, 
Thomas D. Nicholson. Martin Prim. 
Gerard Piel, Nina Root 
David D. Ryus. Publisher 
Bradford D. Smith. Business Manager 
Frederick E. Grossman, Production Mgr. 
Ernestine Weindorf Administrative Asst. 
Elaine M. Callender, Advtg. Production Mgr. 
Barbara Lynn Gutman. Circulation Mgr. 
Daniel J. Dynan. Asst. Circulation Mgr. 
Bob Bruno. Fulfillment Mgr. 
Ramon E. Alvarez, Circulation Asst. 
Natural History (ISSN 0028-07 1 2). incorporating 
Nature Magazine, is published monthly by 
the American Museum of Natural History. 
Central Park West at 79th Street. New 
York. N Y. 10024. 
Subscriptions: S 15.00 a year. In Canada and all 
other countries: SI 8.00 a year. Second-class 
postage paid at New York. N.Y. and at 
additional offices. Copyright © 1981 by 
American Museum of Natural History. All rights 
'eserved. No part of this periodical may be 
■eproduced without written consent of Natural 
History. The opinions expressed by authors do 
wt necessarily reflect the policy of the American 
Museum. Natural History is indexed in Reader’s 
juide to Periodical Literature. 
Advertising Offices: 
Natural History Sales 
*88 Madison Avenue 
Hew York, N.Y. 10022 
fresident of Sales. Arthur Hill Diedrick 
Advertising Manager, Katherine Jose 
'telephone Numbers: 
advertising Sales (212) 826-9467 
Museum Information (212) 873-4225 
Subscription Orders (800) 526-0331 outside N.J. 
(800) 932-0834 in N.J. 
Change of address notices, undeliverable 
copies, orders for subscriptions. 
and other mail items are to be sent to 
5atural History Membership Services 
lox 4300 
lergenfield. New Jersey 07621 
NATURAL 
HISTORY 
Vol. 90, No. 3, March 1981 
American Museum of Natural History 
Robert G. Goelet, President 
Thomas D. Nicholson, Director 
6 Authors 
12 The Human Strategy John L. Gwaltney 
Heirs of Disaster 
28 Bios Robert E. Cook 
Toxic Tailings and Tolerant Grass 
42 This View of Life Stephen Jay Gould 
Kingdoms Without Wheels 
50 The Seeds of Botany Thomas A. Christopher 
More than four hundred years ago plant science blossomed in 
a small Italian city. 
58 Last Call for the Siberian Crane George Archibald 
A great bird, doomed to traverse regions of human warfare 
and hunger, may soon vanish. 
64 Genesis of the Gossamer Condor Morton Grosser 
One of the great feats of human flight was inspired by 
the study of soaring birds. 
72 Vermont Country Calendar Eleanor A. Ott 
Mud season is about to begin. 
84 Dead wood Decomposers Mark Deyrup 
Single Douglas fir trees become the stage for a myriad of 
living interactions. 
92 Books in Review Ian Tattersall 
A Sad Reflection of the Outside World 
98 Sky Reporter Stephen P. Maran 
A Near Miss 
104 Celestial Events Thomas D. Nicholson 
108 At the American Museum 
Nelson’s Glass Eye and Other Tricks of the Trade 
114 Additional Reading 
116 A Matter of Taste Raymond Sokolov 
Blueberry Blues 
Cover: Itinerant blacksmith Leo Carrier of Underhill. Vermont, shoes a 
horse. Photograph by Nathan Benn; Woodfin Camp. Story on page 12. 
1 
