Book review A. Kroh Catalogus Fossilium Austriae, Band 2. Echinoidea neogenica

Kroh, A., 2005. Band 2. Echinoidea neogenica. In: Piller. W.E. (ed.). Catalogus Fossilium Austriae. Ein systematisches Verzeichnis aller auf österreichischem Gebiet festgestellten Fossilien, Ivi + 210 pp., 94 figures, 6 tables 82 plates (b/w photographs). Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien, ISBN 3-7001-3491-6, 149 Euro. To order, see: http://verlag.oeaw.ac.at I would not have dreamt it possible ... not in this day and age! But here it is, right in front of me: volume 2 in the series, Catalogus Fossilium Austriae, entirely devoted to Neogene echinoids known to date from Austrian territory. Central Europe’s chequered history has seen to it that this volume also includes data on echinoid distribution in extra-Austrian countries as well, notably Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria, but also in nations which we have become familiar with only in recent years. This coverage of the volume makes it even more worthwhile. The use of the English language ensures easier access to an international readership, as explained in the foreword; a decision applauded by many, I am sure.