Ornithology: From to the Present. who are most serious in the pursuit of or- Erwin Stresemann nithologicalresearch. (Originally published in German as "Die F.S. Schaeffer F,ntwicklung der Ornithologie von Aristoteles bis zur Gegenwart.")Harvard University Press,Cam- Review of Farner,D.S., and J.R.King feds.).Avian bridge,Mass. ©1975. $20.00. Biology,Vol. 3 (1973),xx & 573pp. ($44.00);Vol. 4 (1974),xxii & 504pp. ($37.00).Academic Press, New Erwin Stresemann's name is one of the most York. respectedin the world of .Most of his works were rather scientificand complex-- all of It has been over 10 years since A.J. Marshall's them brilliant. Biology and ComparativePhysiology of Birds provided a comprehensivetreatment of all facets The work being reviewed is a departure from the of avian biology. The four volumes of Avian scientific. It is not for the casual birder but for the Biology published under the editorship of D.S. seriousstudent of ornithology.It is the history of Farner and J.R. King (1971-1974)are not, for the ornithology, with heavy emphasis on the mostpart, simply an updatingof Marshall's work. philosophicalaspect of the formationof this field Each topic has been reworked in the light of over the years. It is thorough; it has the present-day understanding,and some of Mar- thoroughnessof an analyticalmind. I did not ex- shall'stopics have been largelyreduced or entirely pect this type of work from Stresemann,but it is so deleted while other topicshave been added.Thus, appropriatethat thissubject was takenup by him Avian Biologystands independent of Marshall's rather than, for instance,by a newcomer to the Biology,although the editorsadmit conceptualin- field. If anyonehas a right to claim this historical debtedness to this earlier work. treatment,it is a man of great stature.He has add- ed perhapsthe mostsignificant chapters to the or- Volumes 3 and 4 and the two other previously nithologicalprogression in the "old" and the publishedvolumes of Avian Biologyare intended "new" world. Stresemanneffectively bridges both for the reference use of advanced students and the old and the modern. professionalsin ornithologyas well as in broader functional disciplines such as comparative , an evolutionist,completes this fine ,ecology, and evolutionarybiology. Yet work with a foreword and an epilogue:materials any amateur with a good backgroundin biology for a Historyof American Ornithology.This is most (and to a lesserdegree, chemistry and physics}and fittingbecause "the New World" covereda vastad- with enough perseverance to gain any pre- dition to the history of ornithology. requisite understandingthat is lackingwill find It is interestingto note that bird-bandingas a thesetwo volumesa fascinatingreview of the state method of investigationis but a tiny speckon the of avian biology at this point in its history. top of this ornithologicaliceberg. Sometimes I Althoughan understandingof the informationcon- wonderabout its successas a datagathering device tained in these volumes does lead to a better ap- when one considersthe huge amountof data that preciationof the bird in its real world, thesebooks hasbeen unearthedby brilliant scientistsdeprived are not for casual reading by someoneinterested of this method. ?hese scientists must never be in the natural history of birds. The gaining of a forgotten. deeper understandingof the science of ornith- ology would be better served by reading J.C. Dr. Stresemann died on 20 November 1972 at the Welty's The Life Of Birds (secondedition, 1975, ageof 83.Another book could be written on his im- W.B. Saunders Co.} or G.J. Wallace and H.D. pact on the Historyof Ornithology."Ornithology: Mahan's An Introductionto Ornithology(third edi- from Aristotle to the Present"is a book which kept tion, 1975,MacMillan). me busyfor severalmonths. I recommendit to all who are engagedin thesciences and to our readers Volume 3 coversreproduction in birds (by B. Lofts

Page174 NorthAmerican Bird Bander Vol.2, No. 4 and R.K. Murton], the adenohypophysis[by A. matter what other books you already have. You Tixier-Vidal and B.K. Follett], peripheral en- will learn about the places birds choosefor docrine glands (by I. Assenmacher], neuroen- buildingtheir nests,the diversematerials they use, docrinology(by H. Kobayashiand M. Wada], vi- the variousshapes and sizesof neststhey create, sion (by A.J. Sillman], chemoreception(by B.M. and the eggsthey lay. Wenzel], mechanoreception(by J. Schwartzkapff] Of the 285species covered, Mr. Harrisonsupplies and behavior (by R.A. Hinde). Volume 4 contains an incredible amountof preciseinformation such chapterson the peripheral and autonomicsystems as breedingrange, habitat, nest and eggs,which is (by T. Bennett],pineal gland (by M. Menaker and easily locatedunder theseheadings. In addition, A. Oksche],the functionalanatomy of the skeleto- Mr. Harrisonwill oftenadd sometelling comment muscular system (by W.J. Bock), energy balance in a sectionof "Notes,"such as pointingour types and thermoregulation(by W.A. Calder and J.R. of treesused for nestbuilding, birds victimized by King) and the physiologyof flight (by M. Berger cowbirds, even records of strange nesting sites. and the late J.S.Hart). You will learn, for example, that an American The non-technical reader whose experience Redstartat a nest in Ottawa County,Ohio, built in relatesto watchingand bandingbirds will find the 2 1/2 to 3 days,making 650-700 trips to the nestwith chapteron behaviorin Volume 3 familiar and con- material. And the Yellow Warbler, which tainingmuch informationthat will be of interest. sometimes builds a nest floor over Brown-headed Although dependent on considerable technical Cowbirdeggs. vocabulary,the chapterson reproductionand vi- sion in Volume 3 and those on the skeletomuscular Hal H. Harrison is a retired newspapermanand lecturer; Ned Smith has served as staff artist for system,energy balance and thermoregulation,and the PennsylvaniaGame Commissionfor a number the physiologyof flight in Volume 4 are perhaps of years; Mada Harrison, wife of the author, is an most allied with the experiencesof the amateur excellent field ornithologist,botanist and con- field ornithologist.Not only will appreciationfor chologist,as well as artist. the truly wonderful creatures that birds are be enhancedby just reading selectedchapters from The bird species appear in authoritative these volumes,but also one cannotescape being systematicorder and, where important,some sub- impressedby the wide range of endeavorsthat speciesare described.In the beginningof the book, scientists interested in birds have undertaken -- the backgroundinformation covering subspecies, whether workingwith the whole organismor with time of nesting,courtship, bird measurementsand systemsof interactingcells. nest measurements is offered. This is a wealth of informationin itself withoutgoing farther into the Contributed by John L. Zimmerman, Division of book. Biology,Kansas State University,Manhattan, KS All 26 states east of the Mississippi River are A Field Guide to Birds Nests -- by Hal H. covered.The excellentcolor photographs are plac- Harrison;color photographyby the author;bird ed direcfiyabove the text descriptionsfor the 222 sketchesby Ned Smith; maps and endpapersby specieswhose nests are illustratedin color.You Mada Harrison. 250 pages.$8.95. Peterson Field will go a long way before findingillustrations of Guide Series//21. this caliber. At the bottomof each of thesepages is Ned Smith'sperceptive drawing of the bird itself. It seems natural in this day and age to watch Thus, illustrationsand text appear on the same carefully the directionour moneytakes, but where page. The endpapers(for convenientreference) this bookis concernedthe price of $8.95is a steal! show egg shapes and marking. An outstanding If you are a bird watcher or bander anywhere east work with first-ratecolor photography! of the Mississippi,this is a bookyou shouldhave -- not just on your shelves,but at your elbow, no Mrs. Roger W. Foy

Oct.-Dec.1977 North AmericanBird Bander Page175