As befits the title 'Field Guide', this book will fit into a good-sized pocket, and roughly two-thirds of its 160 pages are devoted to identification. The book begins, however, with substantial introductory sections on the biology, distribution and habitats of dragonflies, together with twenty pages highlighting key sites throughout the country. These sections are supported by explanatory photographs and a map.

The actual identification begins with a glossary and diagrams of typical adults and larvae. Seven detailed pages follow on larval identification, the keys supported by photographs. A simple key to adult dragonflies brings the reader to the individual species' descriptions. These have been written by different specialists, each familiar with the characteristics and behaviour of the given species. The descriptions include thirteen rarities currently considered as visitors to or as extinct in Great Britain and Ireland. All the descriptions are supported by Richard Lewington's colour illustrations

The book has colour-coded page numbers, so that, as one holds it in one's hand, it subdivides instantly into introduction, regional guides, larval identifications, adult zygopteran identification and adult anisopteran identification.

This is a very good book indeed and extremely good value for money. It is a superbly practical field guide. When trying to identify adults, Richard Lewington's meticulous illustrations are a real aid; and, as one watches the real thing in action, some of the specialists' descriptions of individual species' behaviour are uncannily precise.

Steve Brooks' introduction is readable, enthusiastic, clear and neatly compressed.

The section on larval identification is very good and is very well assisted by Robert Thompson's sixteen crystal-clear photographs.

I have heard very few criticisms. Several people mentioned that it might be helpful to have been given sizes or lengths, for example as a means of differentiating between Migrant and Southern Hawkers. Perhaps also a fuller glossary?

The diagram (on p. 49) setting out the external features of a typical adult dragonfly is very clear, but a note beside it would be useful, referring the reader to the glossary opposite for further details. Working on Variable Damselflies in the field, and noting from Lewington's drawing that the pronotum was a useful identification feature, I spent some time puzzling over its absence from the diagram; only to find a definition of it in the glossary some weeks later.

However, this really is being hypercritical. In the opinion of many, this book is the best all-rounder so far. Indeed, it may be worth finishing with a comment overheard: 'if you buy only one book on dragonflies, this should be the one!'

R. Mackenzie-Dodds

The guide has been through two revised editions since this review (in 1999 and 2002) and has seen several additions and changes and, specifically, Ruary's point about measurements has been addressed and the guide now includes these.

This review originally published in the Journal of the British Dragonfly Society, Vol 14 No 2, October 1998