Goannas  The Biology of Varanid Lizards  Dennis King & Brian Green  UNSW Press, 2nd ed, 116pp, pb, $29.95

Goannas are steeped in lore and mythology. My grandfather regarded them as chook killers; May Gibbs portrayed one as the evil Monitor in Mr & Mrs Bear and Friends; and I am sure the Komodo dragon (and perhaps its ancestors) fuelled the legends of fire-breathing dragons. I have always found them intriguing, rather than threatening, though perhaps if I met a full-blown Komodo dragon in the forests of Indonesia I would feel rather differently. 

This book applies a light touch to conveying scientific information about the various types of varanid lizards. The varanids are easily recognised, as they all look pretty much the same whatever their size (that is, like a goanna). They are spread across the southern hemisphere except South America, all within family Varanidae and the genus Varanus, which has a total of around 50 species. About 30 species live in Australia. 

Species of varanids have adapted to a wide range of habitats and some are even semi-aquatic, while others are arboreal. In particular, many have developed techniques for dealing with hot, dry environments. 

To deal with extremes of temperature, they extensively use burrows and other forms of shelter such as hollow logs, and varanids from more arid areas have a higher reflectivity of the skin. For short-term cooling they use "gular fluttering", which means flapping a pouch (the gular region) under their throat to increase the rate of evaporation. Methods of dealing with a scarcity of water, apart from sheltering from the sun, include kidney processes which are regulated by an antidiuretic hormone; and, since they are mainly carnivorous, obtaining most of their water from their food. (See what I learnt from the book?) 

There is detailed coverage of numerous biological features in the book. It should be noted that it is full of scientific terminology, but all the terms are clearly explained and are essential for describing the processes and features. Some of the topics covered are breeding, general behaviour, thermal biology, water use and conservation (goannas on the whole are surviving fairly well in Australia). There are plenty of drawings and diagrams, as well as an extensive bibliography. 

This is a great book for students and amateur enthusiasts. It gives a wealth of information, but nonetheless has flashes of humour as well as a rather poetic prologue and epilogue about a female goanna.

Glyn Mather
NPJ Editor 

A Guide to Bird Habitats  in New South Wales  RM Cooper & IAW McAllan   NSW Bird Atlassers, pb, $32

The Atlas of Australian Birds was published in 1984 for the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (Birds Australia). Based on information from 3,000 observers between 1977 and 1981, it divided Australia into one degree blocks, and the distribution of every species of Australian bird was mapped accordingly. Such blocks have an area of approximately 10,000 square kilometres. 

The NSW Bird Atlas was established in 1982 by the NSW Bird Atlassers Inc to map the distribution of birds in this State on a larger scale, using a ten- minute grid where each block has an area of about 300 square kilometres. A great variety of habitats might be found in such an area. This information should increase understanding of the birds’ require- ments, and eventually help in their conservation. 

Because many observers, especially beginners, may find it difficult to describe the habitats, the NSWBA has published this book. The authors are two experienced field ornithologists. The habitats are classified on the basis of the system used by Specht, Rae and Boughton in their Conservation of Plant Communities in Australia and Papua-New Guinea, 1974. 

However, Specht’s work deals with natural plant communities and protected areas, whereas birds may be found everywhere, often in habitats grossly modified by human activity. Thus as well as various types of forest, woodland, shrubland and grassland, the book describes such areas as grazing lands, cultivated lands and urban areas, as well as bare sand, mudflats, cliffs and ocean waters. A brief description of each habitat is given with a list of major plant species found therein, and a list of bird species typical of such areas. 

The book is freely illustrated with well-chosen colour photographs conveniently placed beside the relevant text.

This is an excellent little book, and should be of interest not only to bird atlassers but to many others who would like to learn more about the natural and not-so-natural environment. A useful bibliography is provided for those who want to go further.

Richard Mason

Note: The book is available from the NSW Bird Atlassers. 
Write to :
Mrs J Southeron, 
"Old Dromana", 
Moree 2400.

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