This comprehensive guide to New Zealand's mammals is not only the best collection of information on these species from a scientific standpoint, but it's very readable. The editor (Carolyn M. King) and the various authors of the 46 species chapters included within this volume have produced a concise, fact-filled book that summarizes biological, historical, behavioral, and management information for each species, the vast majority of which were introduced (intentionally or unintentionally) to New Zealand from the 19th century onwards. The editor's 27-page introduction puts the biology and management of New Zealand's mammals into a dynamic context that describes how ecosystems have changed, and are changing, in this country where the avifauna and the flora evolved essentially in the absence of any mammals. Thus, the many introductions created unforeseen problems and large-scale changes in most every type of New Zealand environment. Ecological and economic damage caused by introduced pests (for example, brushtail possums, ship rats, stoats, European rabbits) as well as conflicts caused by "desirable" species (for example, red deer, Himalayan tahr, chamois) are described even-handedly and factually. Nearly 3,000 scientific papers are cited in the References section, and a helpful Glossary is provided. The artwork by Priscilla Barrett, including 16 color plates, is of high quality and attractive. If you purchase a used copy, get the second edition (2005), as it incorporates much new scientific information that was added since the first edition was published. My only wish is that this book had a comprehensive subject index, in addition to the species index and the extensive geographic index.
