eeu lane boo IN Bel lle bbl oN 31 
BOOK REVIEWS 
THE BIRDS OF KENTUCKY, by Robert M. Mengel. “Ornithological Monographs 
No. 3” of the American Ornithologists’ Union, printed by the Allen Press, 
Lawrence, Kansas. Available from Burt L. Monroe, Sr., Treasurer of the 
A. O. U., Ridge Road, Anchorage, Kentucky. 581 plus xiv pages; illustrated 
with 44 maps and figures, four colored plates, and numerous line drawings 
of Kentucky landscapes. August, 1965; $8.00 to members of the A. O. U.; 
otherwise $10.00. 
From time to time the A. O. U., using funds available through the gener- 
osity of Mrs. Carll Tucker and the Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation, has 
printed in hard-bound book form the major papers which are much too long 
for inclusion in their journal, THE AUK. The monograph on Kentucky, rep- 
resenting 30 years of extensive field work and exhaustive research, is a tri- 
bute to the devotion, tenacity, and scientific ability of its author. 
Mr. Mengel has spared no effort in evaluating and describing the ecology 
of every area in his state; in presenting facts on climatic and geographic 
changes, avifaunal regions, distribution of breeding birds, the effects of en- 
vironmental aspects on changing populations, and even a history of ornithol- 
ogy in Kentucky. He has contributed numerous detailed maps of avifaunal 
regions, of forested areas, and (for many species) of breeding distribution. 
He has carefully defined the terms used throughout the text and his system 
of expressing biotic features. As if all this were not enough, the full-color 
plates are from on-the-site water color paintings of breeding birds made by 
Mr. Mengel (and, I suspect, he also made the line drawings). 
Even a non-resident of Kentucky will find this book makes interesting 
reading. The author provides a thorough discussion, in A. O.U. order, of 
every species of bird observed in Kentucky, including a number now extinct. 
For each, he covers the status — resident, winter visitant, vagrant, etc. — 
recent records, distribution in the four seasons of the year, breeding records, 
geographic variations, and a list of specimens examined. 
For someone who might wish to go birding in Kentucky, this book could 
serve as a somewhat bulky ‘‘where to find’’ guide. However, the value of this 
text far exceeds mere geographical coverage; this is a comprehensive review 
of the present status of all Kentucky birds. In future years, new bird students 
will be able to make accurate evaluations of how human occupation has af- 
fected bird populations. Illinois would be fortunate if one of her native sons 
were to perform a similar task. He would have to begin (as did Robert Mengel) 
at about the age of fifteen and keep detailed records continually for 30 or 
more years! Considering the results shown in THE BIRDS OF KENTUCKY, 
{ can only say that the effort would definitely be worth while. 
Paul H. Lobik, 22W681 Tamarack Drive, Glen Ellyn, Ill. 60137 
ft ft ft Fi 
THE BIRD — ITS FORM AND FUNCTION, by C. William Beebe. Unaltered 
reprint (paper-back) of the 1906 edition, with a new introduction by Dean 
Amadon. Reissued 1966 by Dover Publications, Inc., 180 Varick St., New 
York City; 496 plus xi pages; 371 figures; 5%sx8% inches; $2.75. 
This is a welcome addition to the series of reprints of natural history 
classics by Dover; other recent new issues have included Life Histories of 
