Ian Willis – författare

For this third edition, the typematter has been reset throughout to accommodate the many revisions and additions to the text. The identification drawings, too, have been reviewed and lan Willis has amended or redrawn elements of most of the Figures and has provided several additional drawings. There are 70 new photographs in the section of plates which has now been increased to 96 pages with a total of 248 photographs. The identification of the diurnal birds of prey is especially difficult. There is wide variation in plumage among some species, especially the eagles and buzzards, and in all species general outlines and wing positions are much affected by the prevailing conditions, by wind and light, and by the bird's behaviour at the time. Often, too, the birds are only sighted at long range, and the authors believe that when travelling extensively in Europe even the expert cannot hope to identify more than seventy per cent of the raptors seen. In the book, the 38 European species have been grouped into seven sections. Each section brings together those species with similar field characters between which confusion can so often, and so easily, arise. Each group has an introductory comparative text and drawings, and the species within the groups are then treated individually. The text, succinct and detailed as it is, is greatly enhanced by lan Willis's fine drawings, and there are 248 photographs especially chosen to illustrate aspects of identification. The book has a final section summarising the legal status of birds of prey in European countries. Jacket drawings are by Ian Willis

I joined a writer's club where the participants were invited to deliver a selection of five-minute stories. Sometime later, while in line to vote at our local primary school, the official directing us blurted out, You re the man who wrote that story about the little ghost. I loved that. Embarrassingly, I did not recognise the lady, but she went on the tell the people behind me what a good writer I was and asked me where she could get a copy of my book. Sadly I did not have a book for her to get, but she tickled my ego, so I decided to put together a collection of five-minute stories, in keeping with Clifford s original theme. So here they are, thirty-odd five-minute reads. If books are food for thought, then this is a one-shilling bag of mixed lollies from the milk bar. If you are of an age, you will know what I mean; if not, then you can Google it. Some are sweet, some sour, some are sticky, some hard. None is too big to swallow, and if you do not like one, then there is always another.