BOOK REVIEWS
331
documents and a list of genealogies recently collected that hopefully will be in the Fung Ping Shan Library before long. For the record, Hugh Baker should at least be mentioned in this connection: after all, he collected most of the genealogies that are currently held in Hong Kong University,
DAVID FAURE
The Marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China. Edited by B. Morton and C. K. Tseng, Hong Kong University Press, 1982. 2 Volumes, 933 pp, figures, plates and references cited.
This scholarly work includes over 50 original research papers presenting the results of projects either completed or initiated at a workshop held in 1980 and undertaken to better understand Hong Kong's marine life. It represents studies by 42 scientists from 13 countries concentrating on the North East region of Hong Kong (mainly Tolo Harbour), a region of rich marine life seriously threatened by development and pollution.
It would be impossible in this review to comment on each of the individual contributions, not only because of the number, but also because of the scope included. The work is divided into four parts: an introductory chapter, papers on taxonomy, papers on ecology, and papers on morphology, behaviour and physiology. The introductory paper gives a broad outline of the geology, climate and hydrology of Hong Kong and thus serves as a most useful background to the remaining papers. In the latter, almost 2000 marine organisms are included, many of them hitherto unknown or little described, representing such diverse groups as the red algae, sponges, corals, polychaete worms, marine insects, crabs, barnacles, shrimps, molluscs, fish and plankton. The ecology section deals with a variety of Hong Kong marine habitats (in particular the coral community) and the fourth and final section investigates aspects of the morphology and physiology of a few selected organisms.
Each paper is well presented and the figures and illustrations throughout are generally of a high quality. The overall production is well executed, and the editors and publisher are to be commended on this, particularly bearing in mind that over 50 individual papers involving some 40 authors were involved.
BOOK REVIEWS
331
documents and a list of genealogies recently collected that hope- fully will be in the Fung Ping Shan Library before long. For the record, Hugh Baker should at least be mentioned in this connection: after all, he collected most of the genealogies that are currently held in Hong Kong University,
DAVID FAURE
The Marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China. Edited by B. Morton and C. K. Tseng, Hong Kong University Press, 1982. 2 Volumes, 933 pp, figures, plates and references cited.
This scholarly work includes over 50 original research papers presenting the results of projects either completed or initiated at a workshop held in 1980 and undertaken to better understand Hong Kong's marine life'. It represents studies by 42 scientists from 13 countries concentrating on the North East region of Hong Kong (mainly Tolo Harbour), a region of rich marine life seriously threatened by development and pollution.
It would be impossible in this review to comment on each of the individual contributions, not only because of the number, but also because of the scope included. The work is divided into four parts
an introductory chapter, papers on taxonomy, papers on ecology, and papers on morphology, behaviour and physiology. The introductory paper gives a broad outline of the geology, climate and hydrology of Hong Kong and thus serves as a most useful background to the remaining papers, In the latter, almost 2000 marine organisms are included, many of them hitherto unknown or little described, representing such diverse groups as the red algac, sponges, corals, polychaete worms, marine insects. crabs, barnacles, shrimps, molluscs, fish and plankton. The ecology section deals with a variety of Hong Kong marine habitats (in particular the coral community) and the fourth and final section investigates aspects of the morphology and physiology of a few selected organisms.
Each paper is well presented and the figures and illustrations throughout are generally of a high quality. The overall production is well executed, and the editors and publisher are to be commended on this, particularly bearing in mind that over 50 individual papers involving some 40 authors were involved.
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