These chapters are profusely illustrated with clear, informative figures. Depending on the species, there may be graphs or tables of numbers at the breeding sites, egg laying, age classes, types of food items, or other data available. The behaviour chapter is illustrated with many sequences of drawings showing the elaborate gestures that are the stuff of documentaries. The ecology chapter goes into great detail on breeding biology and foraging energetics. The final two chapters deal with the interactions of humans and albatrosses.
Several appendices provide additional data on albatrosses.
An extensive and current bibliography and an adequate index complete the volume. This volume is an excellent model for a monograph on any group of animals. The depth of detail and research is daunting. All of the chapters are liberally sprinkled with original historical accounts. It is highly recommended for academic and public libraries, though for the circulating, not the reference collection.