Review Of "In The Company Of Crows And Ravens" By J. M. Marzluff And T. Angell

Document Type

Book Review

Publication Date

2-1-2006

Published In

Choice

Abstract

A felicitous collaboration between Angell (an artist) and Marzluff (a Univ. of Washington biologist), both deeply attached to their subject, has produced this authoritative work on the family Corvidae, crows in the greater sense. Unlike many monographs, this one does not focus on species accounts but attempts to review common aspects of these birds' behavior and ecology worldwide and across many species. The authors emphasize the interaction of crows and humans from Pleistocene times to the present. Their thesis that both crows and humans have coevolved--that human behavior is shaped by crows as much as the reverse--is controversial but not essential to the value of the book as a reference work. More than a hundred black-and-white illustrations by Angell embellish the text; many are striking full-page or double-page compositions of almost abstract art. The highly readable text is nontechnical, and will appeal to readers from high school through postgraduate and professional levels. The book includes copious notes, with complete references; a useful appendix of children's books that involve crows and ravens; and suggestions for readers interested in studying these birds. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels.

Comments

This work is freely available courtesy of Choice Reviews. The review has been reproduced in full in the abstract field.

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