Following his return to England, Gould had published The Mammals of Australia in three volumes, between 1845 and 1863. The paintings and texts for each animal were painstakingly prepared from specimens, available information and observations. These works became the standard treatise on Australian mammals for many years and their significance remains to this time.

The original three volume series was reproduced by Macmillan between 1973 and 1976. The current reproduction, again under the editorship of Joan M. Dixon, Curator of Animals, National Museum of Victoria, brings the three volumes into a single edition which includes all the texts and prints of the original volumes. In addition, Joan Dixon has prepared notes on each animal, to supplement and extend the Gould comment. The edition is further enhanced by the inclusion of a modem bibliography and a table of nomenclature.

The prints in the latest edition have been carefully reproduced with regard to detail and the colours of the animals. While the paintings of Gould and co-workers cannot be compared with the results of modem photographic techniques, the prints still have a charm that has not diminished over the years, as evidenced by the value and demand for the original volumes and old prints. Publication of The Mammals of Australia represents an opportunity for enthusiasts of natural history to obtain a gem from the past. The modern notes by Joan Dixon and the inclusion of an up-to- date bibliography make the book a useful addition to personal and institutional libraries and is recommended for inclusion in all public libraries that do not have the earlier edition.