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AMERICAN ‘WILDLIFE AND PLANTS, by Alexander C. Martin, Herbert S. 
Zim and Arnold L. Nelson. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 500 
pages. ‘$7.50. Subtitle: “A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits in the U.S.” 
This book is a veritable encyclopedia of information on its subject, 
and represents more than sixty-five years of research by numerous investi- 
gators into the food habits of animals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, 
and consequently on grains, vegetables, fruits and uncultivated plants 
(commonly called weeds). Chapter 13 (fish, amphibians and reptiles) is 
only five and a half pages, but it is highly informative, and quotes 12 
other references to more detailed works. 
Regarding the authors: Alexander C. Martin is a biologist at the 
Patuxent Research Refuge of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 
Herbert S. Zim is Associate Professor of Education, University of Illinois; 
Arnold L. Nelson is Director of the Patuxent Research Refuge. 
There are four introductory chapters of orientation; five chapters 
devoted to birds, three to mammals, and five to plants. Each description 
of bird or animal and its habits lists its foods, and the approximate 
quantity of each ingredient consumed is indicated by symbols. Conversely, 
in each plant description is plotted the list of animals and birds that 
feed upon it, with symbols indicating the amount of use. 
The innumerable black and white drawings of animals and birds by 
Walter A. Weber, and of plants by John W. Brainerd, are very accurate 
and well posed, and the book is replete with maps showing the seasonal 
distribution of each bird, animal and plant described. As a whole, this 
book demonstrates the interdependence of all life and the significance of 
the balance of nature, which may be disturbed by the being that considers 
himself the most intelligent, man. 
Dr. Alfred Lewy, 25 E. Washington Blvd., Chicago 
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Contributions Invited 
Articles, essays and stories dealing with bird life, nature study or cun- 
servation problems are always welcome, and will be printed within the 
limits of the space available. Manuscripts should be typed double space 
on one side of letter-size paper. Members and friends of the Society are 
requested to send their communications to the Editor. 
