We received our copy of this 2-volume publication two days ago.  It is a
real treasure.  As Amelie said, the organization, the text, the plates
and especially the drawings are outstanding.  I personally feel very
excited about it because the way the volumes are organized gives me (a
rank amateur) a chance to clear my thinking.  I think that Amelie is
right -- this will be a wonderful teaching and learning tool.
 
We ordered our books from Csiro as shown in the December 1997 Vita Marina
Snail Pack.  We contacted
        www.publish.csiro.au
and ordered online on January 8.  The order was confirmed on the same
day, asking us to contact them if we had not ordered (we used a credit
card with some trepidation, but this felt pretty secure).  We received
our books a couple of days ago by air mail.  This website looks like a
very interesting source -- we also ordered a catalog of non-marine
invertebrates, which appears to be a great reference, very well
organized, of Australian land shells.
 
I think that Amelie's description of the books is right on.  It's
pretty expensive, but as far as we've been able to tell, well worth it.
We're very happy.
 
Mary
 
Charles and Mary Owen-------------------------------------------------
3021 S. Michigan, Apt. 508
Chicago IL 60616
(312) 225-4261
 
Paul Monfils wrote:
>
> [Forwarded to Conch-L list from Mollusca list:]
>
> I have received--with enormous delight--my author's copies of
> Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis.
>
> The first impression is an aesthetic one.  The bright red and gold
> covers back and front have aboriginal and aboriginal-inspired
> illustrations in full color.  The end papers have a subtly shaded
> photograph of a gaping tridacnid.  There are spectacular color plates
> grouped at the center of each volume and as frontispieces to vol. 1.
> The black-and-white ink and photographic text figures are beautifully
> executed and even in quality.
>
> The text goes from the general for the phylum, to the class, order,
> and family and all the "super-" and "sub-" categories that pertain to
> the various classes.  Each section is complete in itself, covering
> anatomy, behaviour, reproduction, biogeography, taxonomy and more
> than
> I have listed here.  The general section on Mollusca includes as well
> the fossil record, the history of malacology in Australia (how happy
> I
> was to find a photograph of Tom Iredale!), habitats, physiology, and
> more.
>
> My list is far from complete, but it should indicate that these two
> volumes are basic malacological reference texts that should be in
> every malacologist's library, covering the general to the particular.
> The systematics are up-to-date, and include the best thinking based
> on
> new analyses often from cladistics (but there is no overload of
> trees).  Often compendiums are uneven; not true for these carefully
> edited volumes. (Just ask any author of the various chapters!)
>
> This is scarcely more than an enthusiastic endorsement, not a real
> review. Get your library to order the two volumes and order them for
> yourself. If you teach, they will be invaluable.  You will not be
> disappointed.
>
> Amelie Scheltema
> Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
> Woods Hole, MA
> 02543 USA
> [log in to unmask]