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Book Review
A guide to birds and mammals of A.P.
KUMARAN SATHASIVAM
THE COMMON BIRDS AND MAMMALS OF ANDHRA PRADESH: Sachin Jaltare (Illustration); Universities Press India Pvt. Ltd., 3-6-747/1/A & 3-6-754/1, Himayatnagar, Hyderabad-500029. Rs. 250.
In India, as everywhere else, the animals of greatest popular interest are the mammals and birds. But there are few regional field guides to the birds of India, and even fewer books on the mammals of specific regions. These are the books to consult when one wants to know what species are found in a particular area of interest and to find out where exactly these species are found. This book is a welcome attempt to offer a combined guide covering both the birds and the mamma
ls of Andhra Pradesh.
A look at the species dealt with in the book shows the title is somewhat inappropriate. Animals such as the tiger, elephant, and bustard featured here can hardly be regarded as common in Andhra Pradesh. The small mammals, on the other hand, which are diverse and abundant, have come in for only a brief treatment: just three species of bat and five of rodent find a place. Thus the book really deals with the larger mammals and an eclectic set of birds.
Pleasing
A quick glance through the pages brings to mind the admirably illustrated Collin’s Handguide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. The various bird and mammal paintings depict the species in their typical habitats or in the midst of vegetation. This makes for a more pleasing visual material, when compared to books that show a mosaic of animals against a uniform, featureless background.
A closer look, however, reveals considerable unevenness in the quality of execution of the paintings. The pictures of the sunbirds, for instance, are characterised by simplism, in contrast to a number of waterbirds. There is variability in the style of painting as well. Precision is expected of an illustration in a field guide, but the common langur, to cite one glaring example, is painted in an almost impressionistic style. Invariably, only one form is portrayed of each species, regardless of whether it exhibits dimorphism or sports distinct seasonal plumages. Naturalists will note inaccuracies in the colours of many species. Labelling of the paintings is called for in many pages where various species are juxtaposed. There are instances where two or more species of dissimilar sizes are painted misleadingly: The House Mouse appears to be larger than the House Rat!
Description
The text provides brief descriptions of the appearance, preferred habitat and habits of each species. Almost no effort has been made to indicate where exactly in Andhra Pradesh a particular animal may be found. This is truly a deficiency. Despite the shortcomings, the book will be of use to naturalists, especially beginners unfamiliar with the birds and mammals of Andhra Pradesh in identifying a number of them.
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