Welsh Journals

the department, which had grown considerably since he joined it, left progressively less time for research. However, in the late 1960s, his hobby of caving began to intrude into his zoology and soon his hobby and work fused around the mystery of how cave animals manage to survive and reproduce when so little food material enters caves from the outside world. The tenuous question of the links in this food chain gradually came to dominate his research and during the last decade before his retirement he played a leading part in the international development of cave science, becoming recognised as the foremost cave biologist in Britain. A personal highlight which gave him a great sense of achievement was his selection as Senior Scientist on the first expedition to explore the vast caves of Ecuador. Another was his key role in scheduling part of the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu cave system as Britain's first underground National Nature Reserve-a personal triumph as a cave biologist and also as a conservationist. On retirement he was awarded an Emeritus Senior Research Fellowship of the Leverhulme Trust which was augmented by several prestigious grants from the Royal Society. This support provided funds to expand and accelerate his work on cave energetics. Jeff was always meticulous in all that he did, whether it was preparing a time-table, planning an experiment or organising a field trip. He was particularly good at marshalling all possible responses to a given course of action and never afraid to speak firmly against an illogical or weakly argued course of action. These qualities made him a valuable 'committee man' and he was actively sought after by amateur and professional scientific bodies in South Wales. Among other things he was: the Secretary of State's nominee on the Brecon Beacons National Park Committee, for nine years during the 1960s; he was a long-standing member of the National Museum of Wales' Court and then of its Council, its Science Committee, the Oriel Eryri Sub- Committee and the Editorial Board of Nature in Wales; and he gave almost equal service to the Cardiff Scientific Society (being elected its President for the two years 1985-87) and the Cardiff Naturalists' Society (as its President and Editor of its Transactions). Modest about his achievements and always alive to the gap between what one aims at and what one achieves, he was a reliable sounding board. In manner and personality he was always accessible, friendly, with an even temper and without malice. He was always ready to go out of his way to respond. Note: Dr. Jefferson's contributions to cave study are to be commemorated in a 'Jeff Jefferson Research Fund' established by the British Cave Research Association, of which he was a past President. Book Reviews Ecological flora of the Shropshire region, edited by C. A. Sinker, J. R. Packham, I. C. Trueman, P. H. Oswald, F. H. Perring, W. V. Prestwood. Shropshire Trust for Nature Conservation, Shrewsbury, 1985. 344 pp., illus. ISBN 0 9508637 0 X. Within this fine book is combined work by academic field botanists with substantial contributions by amateur naturalists, some with experience, some with hardly any, by village schools and student parties. The splendidly inclusive chapter on the history of botany and botanists in Shropshire is a lively reminder of all those who have passed on to us something of how Shropshire was in days gone by. The analysis that follows tells of environmental riches that still survive hills, woodlands, hedgerows and fields, rivers, canals, mires and meres, supported by a series of lovely coloured plates. Details of climate, geology, topography, soils, land use etc. have all been mapped and are here presented in intelligible detail. The main body of this model work is the species list into which is compressed much more and better data of how, where and why each lives than is usually found in such works. The labour involved in handling the data did not justify the production of detailed maps for the about 200 species which are widely known and occur so commonly eg. ragged robin, mouse-ear, black medick, ivy, brooklime, daisy. However maps are there for some 400 other not so common species, based on a matrix of 42 10km. squares, each subdivided into twenty five 2x2 km. tetrads. The total area surveyed flows over the edges of modern Shropshire to include boundary verges that are an integral part of the biological Shropshire region. The quantity of accurate recording needed for such a compilation would test any organisation. An inaugural meeting in January 1975 was followed by training courses for any who were ready to help. Methods had to be understood. Ability to identify had to be attested. Specialists in difficult groups became available. Somebody was made responsible for each 10 km square. Evening classes refined skills of an increasing number of local botanists. Clearly devoted time has been given by many who never expected to be caught up in such a demanding enterprise. They finish with a county flora that is carefully and accurately printed. The indexes and references are clean, clear and complete. Indeed they now have a county flora that is not surpassed by any that I know. They set a standard for all other county trusts that will be met wherever leadership and determination appear but not otherwise. Charles Sinker and his colleagues have indeed done well. John H. Barrett Collins Field Notebook of British Birds. Roger Lovegrove. Collins, 1986. 128pp. £ 7.95, illus. ISBN 0 00219175 0 X. My interjection 'Oh, no; not another' was woefully misguided. Collins Field Notebook of British Birds by Roger Lovegrove (the Wales Officer of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) had just landed on my desk. Pages of accurate drawings and diagrams are by Philip Snow who lives in north Wales. Anybody- and I insist, anybody who does not count himself a bit of a specialist will learn which bird is which better from here than from any of the umpteen other guides that have been raining upon us. This book deals with 280 species. It includes all the common ones, many less common and some which you will see only occasionally. But when you do find them you will greatly need just the details and drawings which are included here. As for the 200+ rare and obscure species which the specialist field guides include and which we are never going to see, they are all left out and so do not clutter our view. A very sensible selection. The coloured drawings are accurate and clear. Species easily confused are placed side by side. Little descriptive notes are