There are nearly 300 species of seabirds in the world. This bock makes it possible to identify any *of thern. It also provides a valuable account of the two Bozen or so breeding species of the British Isles, which form a spectacular and internationally important part of our avifauna. The introduction provides a brief survey of the world of seabirds: classification, distribution, surface feeding, seabird characteristics and aids to identification. There are also notes on endangered species and instructions for dealing with oil-damaged birds. The text richly illustrated with live drawings, is a systematic guide to all species and distinct sub-species of seabirds, from penguins to puffins. Each species is fully described with notes on flight, patterns of behaviour, range and breeding areas. There are Indexes to both scientific and English names. The plates in full colour, are by Hermann Heinzel, one of Europe's leading bird painters. Every species is shown, with subsidiary illustrations of plumage variation, flight sketches and similar species for comparison. Altogether 781 birds have been painted in colour. Each plate has a facing caption page, referring the reader to the main entries in the text. The endpapers provide a key to the main seabird groups. The maps in two colours, indicate breeding, non-breeding and migratory distribution. They have been compiled from observations collected during well over a thousand voyages at different seasons, over a period of 18 years. Seabirds of the British Isles are described in greater detail by John Parslow of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, with individual British distribution maps, a map of seabird sites of particular interest, and notes on habitats and seabird watching.