elas ee en -ReOrN: Bol ial eee tN 47 
THE BIRDS OF KOREA 
by M.E.J. Gore and Pyong-Oh Won 
Chas. E. Tuttle Co., 1971 
450 pp, $17.50 
Since I have reviewed this excel- 
lent monograph from the stand- 
point of an amateur ornithologist, 
having spent four wonderful years 
in Korea without availability of 
a useful manual on the birds, I find 
this contribution most useful and 
greatly needed. 
Austin’s 1948 edition, “The Birds 
of Korea,” was the only noteworthy 
account on the birds of Korea, and 
certainly stimulated an interest in 
future studies. It’s a shame that 
Austin’s book was only published 
in a limited edition, and prior to 
1952 the book was already a col- 
lector’s item. The present volume 
is not only an outstanding contri- 
bution to Oriental Ornithology, but 
its greatest importance lies in that 
the text is written in both Korean 
and English. 
The book opens with a brief des- 
cription of the topography and cli- 
mate, followed by remarks on 
habitat and population structure. 
The author distinguishes. eight 
types of habitats and relates this 
with the prominent bird species 
found in each. 
The short chapter on migration 
through Korea illustrates three mi- 
gration routes reaching the penin- 
sula, and although the amazing 
number of 185,650 birds, represent- 
ing 135 species, have been banded 
in Korea, little is known regarding 
their movement patterns. Two 
maps show the major routes and 
recovery stations. 
A short chapter stresses the ur- 
gency for protective laws covering 
Korean bird populations. Fifteen 
species are presently on the pro- 
tected species list, and additional 
ones probably will be added upon 
the emphasis of this book. This is 
folowed by a highly enlightened 
chapter on the history of Korean 
ornithology, covering the literature 
from the first published account 
by Temminck in 1835 to the pres- 
sent. 
The major portion of the book 
consists of a 325-page species ac- 
count, covering 366 species, which 
includes the Ruff (Philomachus 
pugnax) which is cited as an ad- 
denda. The majority of species 
(230) are illustrated in 40 excel- 
lent color plates, while 24 black 
and white figures illustrate habitat, 
nests, etc. A brief description of 
each species — followed by re- 
marks on habitat, present and for- 
mer status in Korea, and _ sub- 
species represented — makes up 
the bulk of this excellent ornitho- 
logical contribution. A short lst 
of birds recorded for North Korea, 
followed by a personal checklist, 
literature cited, and index com- 
pletes this outstanding volume. 
In the past few decades, more 
convenient means of travel, excel- 
lent accomodations and guided 
tours arranged by travel bureaus 
have stimulated a greater interest 
in the Orient. The present volume 
will certainly fill the need of any- 
one traveling to Japan or Korea. 
—Harlan D. Walley 
WHO WAKES 
THE GROUNDHOG? 
EARLY RISERS AND LATE 
BLOOMERS IN THE 
NATURAL WORLD 
by Ronald Rood 
W. W. Norton and Co., 1973 
206 pp, $&.95 
Someone once wrote that whether 
it is clear to you or not, the world 
is unfolding as it should. The sea- 
sons come and go, and so does the 
wildlife, The swallows which leave 
