Review by Choice Review
No fewer than eight major books on the identification and natural history of world whales have appeared in the 1980s. Bonner opened this decade with a volume on cetaceans (Whales, Poole, UK, 1980) and he now closes it with another. He first discusses whale diagnostic characteristics, anatomy, general behavior, and evolutionary history, then provides eight information-packed chapters on related groups of cetaceans. Details on natural history, ethology, identification, parasites, intelligence, adaptive strategies and morphologies, species survival, and relationships to humans are explored, sometimes in depth. The narrative is clear, accurate, and uncomplicated by excessive technical terminology. Most of the information can be found in other books, but Bonner uses his considerable marine experience to contribute personal observations and fresh viewpoints. Numerous line drawings and monochrome and color photographs illustrate the text. Although well done, this book will have less reader appeal than Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Y. Paccalet's Whales (CH, Feb '89); Peter G.H. Evans's The Natural History of Whales and Dolphins (CH, Mar '88) or S.M. Minasian, K.C. Balcomb, and L. Foster's The World's Whales (CH, Mar '85). Recommended for all libraries. -E. D. Keiser, University of Mississippi
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
