Many years of answering questions on the polar regions have inspired the author to compile this Antarctic vademecum to which the plain man can reliably turn for the basic facts. As Librarian and Information Officer of the Scott Polar Research Institute, he is certainly well placed to write a book of this kind for he has behind him not only the support of one of the world’s most comprehensive polar libraries but also the counsel of a resident team of experts. This is not primarily a biological text; it comprises the nature of the Antarctic and sub Antarctic, man’s scientific activities in the region and a brief history of its exploration. Nevertheless, something like a third of the text is devoted to a description of the wildlife, and the author has properly laid stress on the fact that here is on of the few remaining areas of the Earth’s surface where the native fauna and flora are still relatively free from man’s interference. The ecological balance of Antarctica and its surrounding islands is an exceedingly fine one’ whole animal and plant communities could easily be destroyed by human interference however unintentional.