252 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
At Dovercourt the "finds of the day" were undoubtedly the
Distant Sedge (Carex distans) the Incurved Sea Hard-grass
(Parapholis incurva), and it was good to find the Sea Holly
(Eryngium maritimum) still growing vigorously on the dunes.
A. Jones, Secretary.
Book Notices
Field Natural History, A Guide to Ecology.
By Alfred Leutscher. G. Bell and Sons Ltd. 1969. 248
pages, text figures. £3.
It is pleasant to welcome this book which is both a practical
guide to natural history under its more or less scientific name of
ecology, and which is largely based on local examples. Mr
Leutscher is an Essex man who has chosen to illustrate many of
his themes from his experience of the natural history of Epping
Forest. Many of the places mentioned will be familiar to local
naturalists.
This book has three parts. The first part explains the general
principles of life and its functions, covering the three main com-
ponents, soil, plant and animal. In the second a number of typical
British habitats are described, while the third describes a number
of field projects all carried out in Epping Forest. The book is
intended for a wide range of naturalists, students, senior school-
children, teachers, and indeed for all who are interested in the
objective study of natural history.
If one is to make criticism of this book it must be to say that
the illustrations are disappointing. There are too, numerous
trifling errors throughout the text; it is sad that a book which
should be widely used by young people and teachers was not
scrutinised by competent referees before publication.
Nature Conservation in Britain.
By Sir Dudley Stamp. Collins. New Naturalist Series.
1969. 273 pages, 23 plates. 36/-.
Sir Dudley Stamp's posthumous book is a fascinating survey
of nature conservation in Britain, and a fitting subject for a man
of such wide interests, depth of knowledge and ability to com-
municate his enthusiasm for the British countryside. He dis-
cusses here nature conservation in the context of an over-
populated island with ever changing uses for its land.
The history of the conservation movement is traced and the
author discusses at length the problems of management of con-
served areas and the conflict between the need to maintain and
nurture the natural life and surroundings of Britain and the