| BIRDS OF PREY 
by Michael Everett 
| G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York 
1976, 128p., 131 color photographs, 2 maps 
and 3 drawings, $12.95. 
This is a beautiful, coffee table type book 
dealing with all the diurnal birds of prey in the 
world with a very general approach. It would 
seem to be aimed at the general reader and the 
photographs are probably the strongest point. 
The text treats evolution, the fossil record, a 
general classification, physical characteristics, 
hunting, feeding, breeding, migration and 
_ problems arising due to conflicts with man. 
The photo on page 84 is captioned a ‘‘Spar- 
_ row-hawk’’ while one on page 41 correctly 
identifies the same species as an American 
Kestrel and points out the old name but not as 
two words. This was the only error noted. 
—Peter C. Petersen 
THE ENDANGERED ONES 
by James A. Cox 
Crown Publishers, Inc., New York 
1975, 224p., 44 color photographs, 82 b-w 
photographs, 251 line drawings, $14.95. 
Man in his quest to conquer the world is 
leaving a huge wake of destruction behind 
him. If other creatures sharing this planet 
could speak, they certainly would make vo- 
ciferous complaints about mankind. During 
the past 2000 years, the extinction rate for 
vertebrates averaged about two species per 
century for the first eighteen centuries; how- 
ever, now in the twentieth century, the rate is 
one species per year. In attempts to save spe- 
cies from extinction, many nations and the 
International Union for Conservation of Na- 
ture and Natural Resources (IUCN) have pub- 
lished lists of endangered species. In this new 
volume entitled ‘‘THE ENDANGERED 
ONES’’, the author presents the life history, 
habitat requirements, most current numbers, 
reasons for being threatened and recommen- 
dations for saving over 300 of the world’s 
endangered species. The text has been organ- 
ized so that continental species are discussed 
_ independently according to chapters for each 
continent; these are then followed by chapters 
for the oceanic island species and marine spe- 
cies. Of the 250-plus photographs and line 
drawings, the only one I believe that is poor 
quality is the Everglade Kite. For persons 
needing general information about certain en- 
dangered species, this book would be desir- 
able. 
—Editor 
DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS OF 
NORTH AMERICA 
by Frank C. Bellrose 
Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pa. 
1976, 544p., 36 color plates, many line 
drawings, maps, charts and tables, 
$12.95. 
The ‘‘standard’’ waterfowl reference book 
has undergone a complete text rewrite by 
Bellrose but the color plates by T. M. Shortt 
are poorly reproduced from earlier editions. 
The species accounts provide vital statistics 
(unfortunately, not metric), field and in hand 
identification, population status, distribution, 
migration behavior, breeding, postbreeding 
seasonal movements and food habits. Detailed 
movement patterns are mapped and migratory 
movement is graphed for the various sections 
of the country. Introductory chapters cover 
classification, molts and plumages (written by 
Milton Weller), migration, conservation, the 
role of hunting regulation, mortality and dis- 
ease, and identification. Appendices tabulate 
scientific names and list geographic locations 
and federal and state waterfowl areas. An 
extensive reference list is included. If you are 
interested in waterfowl this is a must for you. 
Those possessing earlier editions written by 
Kortright will find the new text worth the price 
of the revised book. 
—Peter C. Petersen 
LAND USE AND THE STATES 
by Robert G. Healy 
Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, Baltimore 
1976, 226p. A Resources for the Future 
book, $10.00. 
After discussing the states’ role in land use 
planning and the present and future conflicts 
over land that have caused such proposals to 
be made, Healy focuses on three of the most 
significant state laws: California’s Coastal 
Zone Conservation Act, Vermont’s Act 250, 
and Florida’s Environmental Land and Water 
Management Act. 
Presented as case studies, these chapters 
afford a rare insight into how each has defined 
and evaluated its land use priorities and for- 
mulated a legislative solution to its particular 
crisis. Healy then discusses the alternative 
programs that various states have adopted, 
enumerates some of the political, social, and 
economic issues their implementation raises, 
and proposes a program of coordinated state 
and local controls to help ease the public’s 
discontent with how the land has been man- 
aged. 
—Lonnie L. Williamson 
