- Email: [email protected]
Nest building and bird behavior
and one each on the chemistry of the Earth’s atmosphere and dielectric properties of polyelectrolyte solutions. All these contributions are excellent, and together they cover a wide range of current research in physical chemistry represented by almost 3500 references to the original papers. A. Couper Chemistry and Physics of Carbon. Vol.19. Edited by P. A. Thrower. Pp. 360. Dekker, New York. 7984. $79.50 (USA and Canada); $95.25 or SFr. 209 (elsewhere).
The latest volume in this excellent series comprises four chapters dealing in turn with substitutional solid solubility in carbonbased materials, kinetics of pyrolitic carbon formation, etch decoration studies of gascarbon reactions and optical properties of anisotropic carbon. The first chapter is a review by Marinkovic (Belgrade) of evidence for direct substitution of carbon atoms in a graphite lattice by other elements. Boron, silicon, and phosphorus are discussed in this regard and their influence on graphite properties described. Tresner (Moscow) discussesin Chapter 2 the formation kinetics of carbon from various gases on a variety of substrates. Derived rate constants and a kinetic model allow a calculation to be made of the rate of formation of pyrolitic carbon from any hydrocarbon decomposition. Yang (Buffalo), in Chapter 3, provides a summary of work to date using an etch decoration technique which yields kinetic data, on an atomic scale, of gascarbon reactions. Reactivity anisotropy of graphite on different crystallographic planes and the trapping and nucleation of gold at crystal edges is the basis of the decoration technique. A detailed experimental procedure, utilising an S.E.M., is presented and several reactions and rates outlined. In Chapter 4, Forrest et al. (Newcastle) review experimental data describing the optical properties of anisotropic carbons. Their formation is discussed. An in-depth mathematical theory is presented which can be used to interpret results of optical microscopy investigations of such materials. The book contains some 250 literature references. J. N. Kirk
Nest Building and Bird Behavior. By Nicholas E. Collias and Elsie C. Collias. Pp. 336. Princeton University Press, NJ. 1984. Cloth f44.80, Paperback f 12.70.
Birds rank among the most outstanding animal architects; some weavers (Ploceidae) and New World orioles (Icteridae) build hanging nests up to two metres long, beautifully woven, while the tailor-bird uses short lengths of material to tie together large leaves in which it can place its nest; these bird tie real knots in the material. The authors, who have themselves made many detailed studies of nest-building, especially of the weaverbirds, describe many
152
aspects of nest-building. There are fourteen chapters, dealing with subjects ranging from the diversity of nest-sites, through the evolution of nest-building behaviour (and the use of such behaviour in the classification of birds), to the ways in which nests help protect the eggs and young against the elements and against parasites and predators. The final chapters are more behavioural, explaining in detail how the nests are built, the development of nest-building ability, and the physiological controls of nest-building. The book ends with a useful appendix tabulating the types of nest built by the different families of birds, an extensive bibliography, and an adequate index. This book pulls together the information in a way that has never been done before, and is a valuable source of reference. C. M. Perrim The Florida Scrub Jay. Demography of a Cooperative-Breeding Bird. By G. E. Woolfenden and J. W. Fitzpatrick. Pp. 406. Princeton University Press, NJ. 7985. Cloth f48.00, paperback f 12.10.
This is not just a study about yet another bird. It is of value because it describes a relatively long-term population study (10 years) and a bird which is a co-operative breeder, a habit which has attracted much attention in the last decade. Co-operative breeders are species where the territory contains more than a single pair; the extra birds help to raise the young belonging to the dominant pair. In this species, the young birds remain with the parents for a year or two and help to raise later broods. Eventually, most young females join other groups while the males stay in their natal territory, many becoming breeders by inheriting their father’s territory. Pairs with helpers raise more young than those without. Territory-size increases with the number of helpers and part of a large territory may ‘bud’ off, enabling some of the young birds of the group to become breeders. Co-operative breeding seems most advantageous where the young have difficulties estalishing themselves independently from their parents. It is much commoner in the tropics than in temperate areas. This is a valuable book; it describes a population of birds that have become so used to the observers that they have become very tame and easy to observe. It is a milestone in our understanding of the selective factors affecting co-operativelybreeding species. C. M. Perrins Scaling. Why is Animal Size so Important? By K. Schmidt-Nielsen. Pp. 247. Cambridge University Press. 7984. Hardback f20.00, Paperback f7.95.
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen’s new book about animal size is fun to read. I recommend it with enthusiasm to all who have an interest
in animal design. The book treats the inherently interesting topic of ‘animal size’ in a readable manner, with a clear logical development, and a style which resembles a detective novel. Indeed, it is hard to set the book down once one begins to read it. It begins by considering the ‘size of living things’ in Chapter 1 and proceeds to the differences in design problems that animals encounter as a result of differences in their size. The book reveals fascinating general relationships for which the mechanistic explanations still remain elusive. It should stimulate a great deal of thought and perhaps this will help to uncover the underlying mechanisms. C. R. Taylor History of Technology, 9th Annual Volume, 1984. Edited by Norman Smith. Pp. 204. Mansell, London. 1984. f26.50.
Under its new Editor, this important annual publication fully maintains the high standard of its predecessors (the contents of which are usefully listed as an appendix to this volume). At a time when so much of the history of technology is no more than a branch of sociology, with little or no technical content, it is refreshing to find a collection of reviews that really concern themselves with technology. The point is well illustrated by an article by Michael Duffy on ‘Rail Stresses, Impact Loading and Steam Locomotive Design’. In his Preface, the Editor rightly refers to this as ‘a thorough analysis of a key problem in the history of railway engineering, a subject which is not to be confused with the history of railways, although it frequently is.’ Last year’s valuable article on the great Roman water-mill at Barbegal is now paralleled by one, by Robert Spain, on a lesser, but not the less interesting, installation in Britain at Ickham, Kent. The history of the gas engine commonly gets lost between steam and petrol engines, but in fact it filled an important niche in its own right: Ian Winship’s article on ‘The Gas Engine in British Agriculture 1870-1925’ is a useful contribution. Donald Hill contributes a fascinating and scholarly article on information about contemporary engineering to be gleaned from the works of Muslim geographers. Other chapter subjects include 14th century pile drivers (Marjorie Boyer); the origin of alloy steels (P. S. Bardell); and Giovanni Sitoni (descended from the Scottish Seton family), one of the lesser known Renaissance engineers. Trevor I. Williams Under Newton’s Shadow. Astronomical Practices in the Seventeenth Century. By L. Murdin. Pp. viii + 152. Adam Hilger, Bristol. 7985. f 16.75 ($26.00).
What is it that astronomers do? How do they become interested in the subject, how do they spend their time? Most people, even if scientifically orientated, might be hard pressed to reply for 1985; what about
The latest volume in this excellent series comprises four chapters dealing in turn with substitutional solid solubility in carbonbased materials, kinetics of pyrolitic carbon formation, etch decoration studies of gascarbon reactions and optical properties of anisotropic carbon. The first chapter is a review by Marinkovic (Belgrade) of evidence for direct substitution of carbon atoms in a graphite lattice by other elements. Boron, silicon, and phosphorus are discussed in this regard and their influence on graphite properties described. Tresner (Moscow) discussesin Chapter 2 the formation kinetics of carbon from various gases on a variety of substrates. Derived rate constants and a kinetic model allow a calculation to be made of the rate of formation of pyrolitic carbon from any hydrocarbon decomposition. Yang (Buffalo), in Chapter 3, provides a summary of work to date using an etch decoration technique which yields kinetic data, on an atomic scale, of gascarbon reactions. Reactivity anisotropy of graphite on different crystallographic planes and the trapping and nucleation of gold at crystal edges is the basis of the decoration technique. A detailed experimental procedure, utilising an S.E.M., is presented and several reactions and rates outlined. In Chapter 4, Forrest et al. (Newcastle) review experimental data describing the optical properties of anisotropic carbons. Their formation is discussed. An in-depth mathematical theory is presented which can be used to interpret results of optical microscopy investigations of such materials. The book contains some 250 literature references. J. N. Kirk
Nest Building and Bird Behavior. By Nicholas E. Collias and Elsie C. Collias. Pp. 336. Princeton University Press, NJ. 1984. Cloth f44.80, Paperback f 12.70.
Birds rank among the most outstanding animal architects; some weavers (Ploceidae) and New World orioles (Icteridae) build hanging nests up to two metres long, beautifully woven, while the tailor-bird uses short lengths of material to tie together large leaves in which it can place its nest; these bird tie real knots in the material. The authors, who have themselves made many detailed studies of nest-building, especially of the weaverbirds, describe many
152
aspects of nest-building. There are fourteen chapters, dealing with subjects ranging from the diversity of nest-sites, through the evolution of nest-building behaviour (and the use of such behaviour in the classification of birds), to the ways in which nests help protect the eggs and young against the elements and against parasites and predators. The final chapters are more behavioural, explaining in detail how the nests are built, the development of nest-building ability, and the physiological controls of nest-building. The book ends with a useful appendix tabulating the types of nest built by the different families of birds, an extensive bibliography, and an adequate index. This book pulls together the information in a way that has never been done before, and is a valuable source of reference. C. M. Perrim The Florida Scrub Jay. Demography of a Cooperative-Breeding Bird. By G. E. Woolfenden and J. W. Fitzpatrick. Pp. 406. Princeton University Press, NJ. 7985. Cloth f48.00, paperback f 12.10.
This is not just a study about yet another bird. It is of value because it describes a relatively long-term population study (10 years) and a bird which is a co-operative breeder, a habit which has attracted much attention in the last decade. Co-operative breeders are species where the territory contains more than a single pair; the extra birds help to raise the young belonging to the dominant pair. In this species, the young birds remain with the parents for a year or two and help to raise later broods. Eventually, most young females join other groups while the males stay in their natal territory, many becoming breeders by inheriting their father’s territory. Pairs with helpers raise more young than those without. Territory-size increases with the number of helpers and part of a large territory may ‘bud’ off, enabling some of the young birds of the group to become breeders. Co-operative breeding seems most advantageous where the young have difficulties estalishing themselves independently from their parents. It is much commoner in the tropics than in temperate areas. This is a valuable book; it describes a population of birds that have become so used to the observers that they have become very tame and easy to observe. It is a milestone in our understanding of the selective factors affecting co-operativelybreeding species. C. M. Perrins Scaling. Why is Animal Size so Important? By K. Schmidt-Nielsen. Pp. 247. Cambridge University Press. 7984. Hardback f20.00, Paperback f7.95.
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen’s new book about animal size is fun to read. I recommend it with enthusiasm to all who have an interest
in animal design. The book treats the inherently interesting topic of ‘animal size’ in a readable manner, with a clear logical development, and a style which resembles a detective novel. Indeed, it is hard to set the book down once one begins to read it. It begins by considering the ‘size of living things’ in Chapter 1 and proceeds to the differences in design problems that animals encounter as a result of differences in their size. The book reveals fascinating general relationships for which the mechanistic explanations still remain elusive. It should stimulate a great deal of thought and perhaps this will help to uncover the underlying mechanisms. C. R. Taylor History of Technology, 9th Annual Volume, 1984. Edited by Norman Smith. Pp. 204. Mansell, London. 1984. f26.50.
Under its new Editor, this important annual publication fully maintains the high standard of its predecessors (the contents of which are usefully listed as an appendix to this volume). At a time when so much of the history of technology is no more than a branch of sociology, with little or no technical content, it is refreshing to find a collection of reviews that really concern themselves with technology. The point is well illustrated by an article by Michael Duffy on ‘Rail Stresses, Impact Loading and Steam Locomotive Design’. In his Preface, the Editor rightly refers to this as ‘a thorough analysis of a key problem in the history of railway engineering, a subject which is not to be confused with the history of railways, although it frequently is.’ Last year’s valuable article on the great Roman water-mill at Barbegal is now paralleled by one, by Robert Spain, on a lesser, but not the less interesting, installation in Britain at Ickham, Kent. The history of the gas engine commonly gets lost between steam and petrol engines, but in fact it filled an important niche in its own right: Ian Winship’s article on ‘The Gas Engine in British Agriculture 1870-1925’ is a useful contribution. Donald Hill contributes a fascinating and scholarly article on information about contemporary engineering to be gleaned from the works of Muslim geographers. Other chapter subjects include 14th century pile drivers (Marjorie Boyer); the origin of alloy steels (P. S. Bardell); and Giovanni Sitoni (descended from the Scottish Seton family), one of the lesser known Renaissance engineers. Trevor I. Williams Under Newton’s Shadow. Astronomical Practices in the Seventeenth Century. By L. Murdin. Pp. viii + 152. Adam Hilger, Bristol. 7985. f 16.75 ($26.00).
What is it that astronomers do? How do they become interested in the subject, how do they spend their time? Most people, even if scientifically orientated, might be hard pressed to reply for 1985; what about