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Biology of reptiles. An ecological approach
this was difficult to follow. Perhaps this is inevitable in the present state of our ignorance. Nevertheless, I agree with what I believe his main conclusion to be, namely that some change in protein synthesis in certain neurones may be important in the genesis of sodium appetite. That, of course, unanswered. questions most leaves Parenthetically, I was pleased to see that Derek Denton now seems to accept that angiotensin may play a physiological role in certain types of thirst, by mechanisms that are certainly different from those implicated in sodium appetite. In conclusion, despite some limitations this book is a major achievement and it will remain a standard reference for many years to come. J. T. Fitzsimons
Biology of Reptiles. An Ecological Approach. By Ian F. Spellerberg. Pp. 158. Blackie, Glasgow. 1982. Limp f8.95, cased f 17.95.
This book attempts to describe the essentials of reptile biology, using an ecological approach, in a manner suited to advanced undergraduates and others. A wide and potentially useful range of subject matter is included. One’s expectations, raised by the eight chapter titles, are not entirely fulfilled. The text is often marred by an awkward and sloppy writing style; the many imprecise or inaccurate statements are intolerable in a work of this kind. For example (page l), in the Devonian ‘some amphibians evolved from an airbreathing fish’. Homeostasis is erroneously equated solely with maintenance of water balance (page 86). ‘Intraspecific variation in population density is not unusual’ (page 109): surely it is universal among reptiles? On the back cover the ‘blurb’ writer defines herpetology as the study of reptiles: many herpetologists study only amphibians. The diagrams, mostly re-drawn from existing sources, are disappointing. The single photograph illustrates a clump of spinifex grass. Although useful in some respects, this be wholeheartedly work cannot recommended. The price of the book is outrageous; for the same price readers could obtain both Reptiles (Bellairs and Attridge) and Reptile Ecology (Heatwole), together providing a full and reliable account of reptile biology. Brian Groombridge
A Short History of Twentieth-Century Technology. By Trevor I. Williams. Pp. 411. Oxford University Press. 1982. f 12.50.
Over the past 29 years the monumental has been of Technology accumulating on bookshelves. For the time being, at least, this Short History completes the task. There are now seven volumes in the main series and two shorter versions. Trevor Williams has been involved with History
each of them from the start. All are still in print. In a seemingly impossible task, the author covers the development of all aspects of technology from 1900 to 1950 in 400 pages. Though generously endowed with statistics the text is highly readable and well provided with apposite illustrations. Of 26 chapters dealing with specific subjects, five cover topics largely or totally new in the 20th century: nuclear power, the internal combustion engine, food technology, aeronautics, and computers. There are no references, though each chapter terminates with a bibliography. The study of the history of technology has broadened since 1954 and there is now an emphasis (unduly great, some might say) on social, economic, and political factors. To some extent this volume reflects the change though a healthy regard is retained for ‘Facts not Opinions’ (to quote from the sign outside Kirkaldy’s materials testing works in Southwark). The Introduction succinctly discusses those external influences which directed technological development in the 20th century, identifying them as education, the two sides of industry, and government. This sets the scene for chronicling the innovations which were to change life so profoundly in the industrialised nations. R. G. W. Anderson
Science and Technology in the Middle East. By Ziauddin Sardar. Pp. 324. Longman, London. 1982. f39.00.
During the last decade the oil-rich countries of the Middle East have devoted substantial parts of their income to developing their resources in science and technology. The publication of this comprehensive guide is, therefore, very timely. The Middle East is not a very strictly defined geographical term. In the present context it covers the huge area stretching from Morocco to Pakistan that is predominantly Islamic in outlook. As Ziauddin Sardar points out in his Introduction, the area would more accurately be described as the Near and Middle West if looked at from Islamabad. The text is divided into three parts. The first is a general overview, giving a critical scientific and description of the technological development of the area since 1975. The Regional Organizations section is devoted, as its title implies, to promotional organizations within the region, though in fact the only one yet of real consequence is apparently the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. Finally, there is a sectionamprising more than half the bookdevoted to Profiles of the nineteen countries falling within the scope of the guide. It is hard to evaluate such directories except by extended use but this one appears to be as comprehensive and accurate as the rapidly changing situation permits.
Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, Vol. 28. Pp. 718. The Royal Society, London. 1982. f46.00.
The publication of this volume of Memoirs almost exactly coincided with the publication by the Secretaries, in Royal Society News for January 1983, of an interesting article outlining the way in which Fellows of the Royal Society are elected and what criteria are involved. In the course of this it is mentioned that the Society is anxious-in an annual quota of forty-to elect more candidates under 40 years of age. Since 1952 the average age at election has risen from 49 to 53 and in 1982 only 5 per cent of candidates nominated were under 40. Under the late Lord Florey, President 1960-65, the Society expressed its intention to elect in future a higher proportion of Fellows from the ranks of applied rather than pure scientists. There is, therefore, some small interest in looking at the 26 biographies here published in the light of these criteria, even though they were, of course, adopted after many of the Fellows commemorated here were elected. If we except the four Foreign Members, to whom rather different considerations apply, the average age at election was 53, almost exactly what it is today. Of these only one, C. H. Best, was elected before he was 40; two others were elected at 40; and three more before they were 45. The average age at election of the four Foreign Members was 67, but the figure is distorted by the election of Jerzy Neyman in 1979 at the age of 85: he died two years later. Looking at the difference in numbers between pure and applied scientists, one sees how necessary Florey’s recommendation was. The Society’s interpretation of applied science has always been rather cautious, favouring engineering departments in universities and noncommercial institutions such as the National Physical Laboratory-represented here by a former Director, Sir Gordon Sutherlandand the John Innes Institute, also represented by a former Director, Roy Markham. There is but a single representative of manufacturing industry, in the person of Montague Pennell, who spent the whole of his working life with British Petroleum, of which he became Deputy Chairman. Franz Sondheimer had a brief spell as head of research in Syntex S.A. in Mexico, but was essentially an academic. These memoirs are prepared with meticulous care, partly on the basis of material deposited with the Royal Society by the subjects themselves, partly on the personal and professional knowledge of the writers. They form not only an unrivalled source of general biographical information but reflect most of the major developments in 20th century science. This volume fully maintains the high standards of its predecessors. Trevor I. Williams
Trevor I. Williams
159
Biology of Reptiles. An Ecological Approach. By Ian F. Spellerberg. Pp. 158. Blackie, Glasgow. 1982. Limp f8.95, cased f 17.95.
This book attempts to describe the essentials of reptile biology, using an ecological approach, in a manner suited to advanced undergraduates and others. A wide and potentially useful range of subject matter is included. One’s expectations, raised by the eight chapter titles, are not entirely fulfilled. The text is often marred by an awkward and sloppy writing style; the many imprecise or inaccurate statements are intolerable in a work of this kind. For example (page l), in the Devonian ‘some amphibians evolved from an airbreathing fish’. Homeostasis is erroneously equated solely with maintenance of water balance (page 86). ‘Intraspecific variation in population density is not unusual’ (page 109): surely it is universal among reptiles? On the back cover the ‘blurb’ writer defines herpetology as the study of reptiles: many herpetologists study only amphibians. The diagrams, mostly re-drawn from existing sources, are disappointing. The single photograph illustrates a clump of spinifex grass. Although useful in some respects, this be wholeheartedly work cannot recommended. The price of the book is outrageous; for the same price readers could obtain both Reptiles (Bellairs and Attridge) and Reptile Ecology (Heatwole), together providing a full and reliable account of reptile biology. Brian Groombridge
A Short History of Twentieth-Century Technology. By Trevor I. Williams. Pp. 411. Oxford University Press. 1982. f 12.50.
Over the past 29 years the monumental has been of Technology accumulating on bookshelves. For the time being, at least, this Short History completes the task. There are now seven volumes in the main series and two shorter versions. Trevor Williams has been involved with History
each of them from the start. All are still in print. In a seemingly impossible task, the author covers the development of all aspects of technology from 1900 to 1950 in 400 pages. Though generously endowed with statistics the text is highly readable and well provided with apposite illustrations. Of 26 chapters dealing with specific subjects, five cover topics largely or totally new in the 20th century: nuclear power, the internal combustion engine, food technology, aeronautics, and computers. There are no references, though each chapter terminates with a bibliography. The study of the history of technology has broadened since 1954 and there is now an emphasis (unduly great, some might say) on social, economic, and political factors. To some extent this volume reflects the change though a healthy regard is retained for ‘Facts not Opinions’ (to quote from the sign outside Kirkaldy’s materials testing works in Southwark). The Introduction succinctly discusses those external influences which directed technological development in the 20th century, identifying them as education, the two sides of industry, and government. This sets the scene for chronicling the innovations which were to change life so profoundly in the industrialised nations. R. G. W. Anderson
Science and Technology in the Middle East. By Ziauddin Sardar. Pp. 324. Longman, London. 1982. f39.00.
During the last decade the oil-rich countries of the Middle East have devoted substantial parts of their income to developing their resources in science and technology. The publication of this comprehensive guide is, therefore, very timely. The Middle East is not a very strictly defined geographical term. In the present context it covers the huge area stretching from Morocco to Pakistan that is predominantly Islamic in outlook. As Ziauddin Sardar points out in his Introduction, the area would more accurately be described as the Near and Middle West if looked at from Islamabad. The text is divided into three parts. The first is a general overview, giving a critical scientific and description of the technological development of the area since 1975. The Regional Organizations section is devoted, as its title implies, to promotional organizations within the region, though in fact the only one yet of real consequence is apparently the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. Finally, there is a sectionamprising more than half the bookdevoted to Profiles of the nineteen countries falling within the scope of the guide. It is hard to evaluate such directories except by extended use but this one appears to be as comprehensive and accurate as the rapidly changing situation permits.
Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, Vol. 28. Pp. 718. The Royal Society, London. 1982. f46.00.
The publication of this volume of Memoirs almost exactly coincided with the publication by the Secretaries, in Royal Society News for January 1983, of an interesting article outlining the way in which Fellows of the Royal Society are elected and what criteria are involved. In the course of this it is mentioned that the Society is anxious-in an annual quota of forty-to elect more candidates under 40 years of age. Since 1952 the average age at election has risen from 49 to 53 and in 1982 only 5 per cent of candidates nominated were under 40. Under the late Lord Florey, President 1960-65, the Society expressed its intention to elect in future a higher proportion of Fellows from the ranks of applied rather than pure scientists. There is, therefore, some small interest in looking at the 26 biographies here published in the light of these criteria, even though they were, of course, adopted after many of the Fellows commemorated here were elected. If we except the four Foreign Members, to whom rather different considerations apply, the average age at election was 53, almost exactly what it is today. Of these only one, C. H. Best, was elected before he was 40; two others were elected at 40; and three more before they were 45. The average age at election of the four Foreign Members was 67, but the figure is distorted by the election of Jerzy Neyman in 1979 at the age of 85: he died two years later. Looking at the difference in numbers between pure and applied scientists, one sees how necessary Florey’s recommendation was. The Society’s interpretation of applied science has always been rather cautious, favouring engineering departments in universities and noncommercial institutions such as the National Physical Laboratory-represented here by a former Director, Sir Gordon Sutherlandand the John Innes Institute, also represented by a former Director, Roy Markham. There is but a single representative of manufacturing industry, in the person of Montague Pennell, who spent the whole of his working life with British Petroleum, of which he became Deputy Chairman. Franz Sondheimer had a brief spell as head of research in Syntex S.A. in Mexico, but was essentially an academic. These memoirs are prepared with meticulous care, partly on the basis of material deposited with the Royal Society by the subjects themselves, partly on the personal and professional knowledge of the writers. They form not only an unrivalled source of general biographical information but reflect most of the major developments in 20th century science. This volume fully maintains the high standards of its predecessors. Trevor I. Williams
Trevor I. Williams
159