REVIEWS AND RECORDS

Dyer, Michael. 1983. Effect of nest helpers on growth of Redthroated Bee-eaters. Ostrich 54:43-46. The effect of nest helpers on the growth of Redthroated beaters was studied at Samaru, northern Nigeria. Nestlings in broods raised by pairs with helpers grew heavier and faster than in those raised by unassisted pairs. The most significant improvements in growth were found in late-hatched nestlings of larger broods. Possible benefits of heavier and faster growth are considered in terms of prefledging development and postfledging survival.     

REVIEWS AND RECORDS

Summerhayes, C. P., Hofmeyr. P. K. &; Rioux, R. H. 1974. Seabirds off the southwestern coast of Africa. Ostrich 45: 83–109.

The distribution of seabirds off the southwestern coast of Africa was observed during April. May and November, and observed south of Africa in March. Most seabirds off the west coast were concentrated near to the coast or over the edge of the continental shelf. These are sites where forms of upwelling bring water rich in nutrients to the surface of the sea. The most birds were seen in March, April and May, the least in November. Most common over the shelf-edge were, in order of abundance, Blackbrowed Albatross, Cape Hens, Shy Albatross, Yellownosed Albatross, Wilson's Storm Petrels, Cape Gannets, Common/Arctic Terns, and Antarctic Skuas. Seasonal shifts in their ranges and population densities probably reflect the influence of breeding and migration.

Comparable concentrations of seabirds were only seen as the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Subantarctic were approached south of Africa. Here turbulence breaks up the front of the Subtropical Convergence and, in moving large masses of cold water northwards, provides a “corridor” which Southern Ocean species may follow to reach Africa.

(Contribution No. 2687 of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution).     

REVIEWS AND ANNOTATIONS

Craig, A. J. F. K. 1974. Reproductive behaviour of the male Red Bishop Bird. Ostrich 45:149-160.

Male Red Bishop Birds Euplectes orix show territorial behaviour while in nuptial plumage. Territory-holders drive off other conspecifics in Chases or by means of Threats. Bouts of threatening between neighbouring males are common; FightsMayoccur. Relations with other species on the territory are described. Territories in this study averaged 8 m² of reeds, where nests are built and potential mates are courted. No feeding is done on the territory.

Three calls termed Chipping, Rattling and Sizzling form a large part of the male's activity. Chipping is the alarm call, while Rattling and SizzlingMaybe important in mate attraction. In courtship the male makes a characteristic flying approach, a Bumble-flight, followed by the perched Swivelling display. The copulation approach is similar in form. Any bird in non-breeding plumageMaybe courted, since no response from the partner seems to be necessary.     

ONPG圆片的制备和应用

用国产材料及试剂,自制β－半乳糖甙酶试验用ＯＮＰＧ圆片。经过菌种试验和临床实验室应用证明,使用此种圆片与常规试管法和国外的同类圆片进行对比试验,所得结果完全一致。此种圆片使用方便,易于保存,可以长期使用,且节约试剂,达到国外同类制品的质量,有助于保证和提高细菌鉴定工作质量。     

AUDIO CASSETTES REVIEW

ABSTRACT

Some animals emit sounds usable for acoustic monitoring of their population size. Such signals should be loud, omni-directional and easy to recognise and localise. Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris mating calls (booms) are known to be loud and probably omni-directional but there is no data on acoustic localisation of this species. We made recordings of bittern booms with a 4-element GPS-linked microphone array, calibrated for absolute sound pressure level measurements. Receiver spacing was 65 to 294 m. The source level was 101 ± 3 dB re 20 μPa @ 1 m. The source level did not vary more than 7 dB for the same boom recorded at two different locations, with angular separations of 3°-27° as seen from the source. The geometric transmission loss was close to spherical, and the excess attenuation was much smaller than what was expected from the prevailing temperature and humidity conditions. The prevailing wind conditions caused sound velocity variations of up to 3%. The source location error was 104 ± 113 m (mean ± 1 s.d.). The prevalence of large location errors was probably caused by problems of discerning the direct path from multipath arrivals of the signal at the receivers and by sound velocity variations.     

SHORT REVIEWS AND NOTICES

A CONCISE GUIDE TO THE FLOWERS OF BRITAIN and Europe. Oleg Polunin. xix + 107 pp., 192 plates of colour photographs. Oxford University Press, Oxford and New York. 1987.
FLOWERS OF GREECE AND THE BALKANS, A field guide. Oleg Polunin. xv + 592 pp., 82 plates of colour photographs, several pages of line drawings. Oxford University Press, Oxford and New York. 1987.
the englishman's flora. Geoffrey Grigson. 478 pp., 44 black and white woodcuts. Phoenix House, London. 1987.
bee orchids. Stephen Blackmore. ISBN 0 85263 745 4.
buttercups. Stephen Blackmore. ISBN 0 85263 763 2.
willows of the British isles. Theresa Brendall. ISBN 0 85263 765 9.
All 24 pp., illustrated in colour and black and white. Shire Publications Ltd., Princes Risborough. 1985.     

BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTES

Australian Aboriginal Social Organization . David H. Turner.
The Affinal Relationship System: A New Approach to Kinship and Marriage among the Australian Aborigines at Port Keats . Aslaug and Johannes Falkenberg.     

BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTICES

Book reviewed in this article:
SYDNEY PARKINSON ARTIST OF COOK' ENDEAVOUR VOYAGE. Edited by D. J.
THE JOHN TRADESCANTS, GARDENERS TO THE ROSE AND LILY QUEEN.