- Email: [email protected]
The encyclopedia of paleontology
365 most disappointing, is what should have been the key chapter by Kjerfve on 'water currents, temperature, salinity and density'. Undoubtably Dr. Kjerfve knows his subject, but is unlikely to make much impact with this confused synthesis; some o f the introductory material and almost all o f the final thirty pages (including a computer program listing) should have been omitted. Overall the book is well-written, edited and has few typographical errors. It just about accomplishes what it sets out to do, despite lapsing occasionally into catalogues of techniques. R.W.G. Carter, Coleraine, L o n d o n d e r r y
PA LAEONTOLOGY R.W. Fairbridge and D. Jablonski (Editors), 1979. The Encyclopedia of Paleontology. Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsburg, Penn., 885 pp., U .S. $ 90.00. This major new w o r k is organised, in common with other volumes o f the Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences, into separate entries arranged alphabetically from A to Z. There are 152 individual items written by about 120 carefully chosen contributors, and several hundred illustrations, Whilst there are no entries under letters J, K, N, Q, U, W, Y and Z, the average number per letter is 6, P having the most at 28. As an example, under R one may read about Radiolaria, Receptaculitoids, Reefs and other carbonate buildups, Reptilia, Rostroconchs, and Rudists, testifuing to a generally judicious and wide-ranging choice o f topics. Most of these one w o u l d hope to see, others are more unexpected; the peculiar mollusc Mattheva has a separate entry but Machaeridians are not mentioned. On the whole, the articles are very good; concisely written and using up-to-date terms, though in a few cases the items seem to have been written a few years ago. Reference lists, though o f variable length, are provided for each entry, cross-referencing is used, moreover the index is long and reasonably useful. Does the Encyclopedia fulfil its function as a basic reference text? I th'ink it certainly
does: it is comprehensive enough to have wide appeal, especially to undergraduate students and geologists generally; it should have a place in all geological libraries, and should be often used as a good source o f basic information. For professional palaeontologists the Encyclopedia provides a rich compendium o f informed and often fascinating articles --surely this must be the palaeontologist's bedside book o f all time; even though few will be able to afford it for themselves. Conversely, much of the information especially that dealing with individual fossil groups is readily available elsewhere (in the Treatise on Invertebrate Palaeontology, for instance). Despite this no palaeontologist could find this volume d u l l ; t h e r e will surely be very many topics he feels he ought to know about and d o e s n ' t - h e r e is a fine o p p o r t u n i t y to find out (though regretfully he will not find mention of the Hunsr(Jckschiefer). And there are some real gerns, M.J.S. Rudwick's on pre-Darwinian palaeontology being one. Some o f the other articles are the best readily available treatment o f particular themes. In some cases, more care could have been taken in balancing the entries, f o r example there are fourteen (very good) pages on Rudists but only five in Riostratigraphy ! It is the quality of presentation which leaves most to be desired. Considering the high price one w o u l d not expect the text to be printed on a dismally off-white paper through which the print on the other side is sometimes seen. And surely authors could have taken more care to select illustrations which w o u l d harmonise. It can be done, as witness Delevoryas' beautifully produced entry on Gymnosperms. But so often the line drawings have been taken from widely different sources and look dreadful when placed together. Furthermore some line drawings have been so far reduced that the ink is faint and even absent, in others it is black and smudgy. These things do matter, and publishers o f such expensive books should realise it. But I still feel positively about this otherwise fine Encyclopedia. It is a welcome addition to the range o f essential reference texts in palaeontology. E.N.K. Clarkson, Edinburgh
PA LAEONTOLOGY R.W. Fairbridge and D. Jablonski (Editors), 1979. The Encyclopedia of Paleontology. Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsburg, Penn., 885 pp., U .S. $ 90.00. This major new w o r k is organised, in common with other volumes o f the Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences, into separate entries arranged alphabetically from A to Z. There are 152 individual items written by about 120 carefully chosen contributors, and several hundred illustrations, Whilst there are no entries under letters J, K, N, Q, U, W, Y and Z, the average number per letter is 6, P having the most at 28. As an example, under R one may read about Radiolaria, Receptaculitoids, Reefs and other carbonate buildups, Reptilia, Rostroconchs, and Rudists, testifuing to a generally judicious and wide-ranging choice o f topics. Most of these one w o u l d hope to see, others are more unexpected; the peculiar mollusc Mattheva has a separate entry but Machaeridians are not mentioned. On the whole, the articles are very good; concisely written and using up-to-date terms, though in a few cases the items seem to have been written a few years ago. Reference lists, though o f variable length, are provided for each entry, cross-referencing is used, moreover the index is long and reasonably useful. Does the Encyclopedia fulfil its function as a basic reference text? I th'ink it certainly
does: it is comprehensive enough to have wide appeal, especially to undergraduate students and geologists generally; it should have a place in all geological libraries, and should be often used as a good source o f basic information. For professional palaeontologists the Encyclopedia provides a rich compendium o f informed and often fascinating articles --surely this must be the palaeontologist's bedside book o f all time; even though few will be able to afford it for themselves. Conversely, much of the information especially that dealing with individual fossil groups is readily available elsewhere (in the Treatise on Invertebrate Palaeontology, for instance). Despite this no palaeontologist could find this volume d u l l ; t h e r e will surely be very many topics he feels he ought to know about and d o e s n ' t - h e r e is a fine o p p o r t u n i t y to find out (though regretfully he will not find mention of the Hunsr(Jckschiefer). And there are some real gerns, M.J.S. Rudwick's on pre-Darwinian palaeontology being one. Some o f the other articles are the best readily available treatment o f particular themes. In some cases, more care could have been taken in balancing the entries, f o r example there are fourteen (very good) pages on Rudists but only five in Riostratigraphy ! It is the quality of presentation which leaves most to be desired. Considering the high price one w o u l d not expect the text to be printed on a dismally off-white paper through which the print on the other side is sometimes seen. And surely authors could have taken more care to select illustrations which w o u l d harmonise. It can be done, as witness Delevoryas' beautifully produced entry on Gymnosperms. But so often the line drawings have been taken from widely different sources and look dreadful when placed together. Furthermore some line drawings have been so far reduced that the ink is faint and even absent, in others it is black and smudgy. These things do matter, and publishers o f such expensive books should realise it. But I still feel positively about this otherwise fine Encyclopedia. It is a welcome addition to the range o f essential reference texts in palaeontology. E.N.K. Clarkson, Edinburgh