The Life of Mammals" by David Attenborough. 2002.[book review]

2004 BOOK REVIEWS sections provide numerous additional references for those requiring further information. The book should be on the library shelves of any researchers, government agencies and non-government conservation and scientific organizations studying seabird biology and/ or the conservation of seabirds. Errors appear to be few – the reference to Wilson et al. (1985) cited on page 116 is not listed in that chapter’s literature cited section, which includes two references that don’t appear to have been cited. However, since most of the chapters are written as scientific papers, some may be too technical for some readers. The review by Cooper et al. of legal and quasilegal aspects of the issue provides a valuable reference compendium, but is so riddled with acronyms that I found myself wishing for a glossary. I also hope that the seven abstracts at the end of the book are expanded into full papers somewhere. As valuable a contribution as the book is in itself, this volume will undoubtedly also stimulate more research 287 that will require another update before long. Such an update could usefully also include papers or chapters on aquatic bird bycatch of fisheries on inland waters, such as those of the Great Lakes, several large prairie province lakes and similar lakes on other continents. MARTIN K. MCNICHOLL 4735 Canada Way, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 1L3 Canada The Life of Mammals By David Attenborough. 2002. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. 320 pages, U.S.$29.95. As the latest edition in the BBC “Life” series combining television and print media, the book on mammals is nicely illustrated with a good selection of colour photographs that closely follows the engaging text by David Attenborough as he presents interesting stories on these fascinating animals. The first chapter, “A Winning Design”, starts off with the ability of mammals to adapt to different environments on earth, including the harsh arctic conditions where lemmings live year round. After describing some basic characters of mammals, such as hair and the production of milk, there is a general introduction to the origin and evolution of this group of warm-blooded organisms. The chapter finishes off with two early mammalian radiations that cover the egg-laying monotremes and the marsupials, which give birth to under-developed young. The remaining nine chapters deal with the placental eutherian mammals but instead of continuing to describe them by scientific groups the format switches to artificial categories such as diet and habitat. This unnatural classification seems awkward at times with bats, which people can readily identify with, split into two separate chapters, “Insect Hunters” (curiously including vampire bats) and “Life in the Trees” (although some insect-eating bats also live in trees). There was a missed opportunity to educate readers in scientific classification and evolution while still entertaining them with a plethora of amazing natural history stories. Primates get star billing in the book with the last two and a half chapters devoted to this charismatic order of mammals. Although the higher-level taxonomy (or common names employed) is not current, it begins with prosimians as an early branch of the primates. The latest view is that this is not a natural group be- cause, for example, tarsiers are more closely related to monkeys and apes, as alluded to but nonetheless still included in the chapter with lemurs. The other primates are grouped to cover the new and old world monkeys, and ending with the gibbons and great apes, including a branch for humans. The last half chapter concentrates on both physical and social anthropology from the first evidence of bipedal locomotion to cultivation and civilization. The book is definitely aimed at a general but knowledgeable audience with an interest in nature and mammals. I am sure, however, that practising biologists will still find a few facts new to them in their nonspecialist group because the background research is relatively good. It was nice to see some recent scientific hypotheses on mammalian evolution making it into the book such as the close relationship between whales and hippopotamuses. But some other emerging ideas based primarily on molecular data did not, including the association of bats with carnivores, ungulates and whales, as opposed to insectivores, or tree shrews, flying lemurs and primates. My criticisms are mostly biologically oriented because the book is attractively presented with most photographs of good quality and information well written. But there should be more books that combine current scientific research with an explanation of the deeper implications or processes involved for wider distribution to the general public looking for meaningful substance beyond the usual cursory facts. BURTON K. LIM Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6 Canada Geographic Variation in Size and Shape of