Our purposes in this preface are, first, to reiterate our view of Current Ornithology's role; second, to describe briefly the contents of this vol­ ume; and third, to acknowledge the generous help of our Editorial Board and of the reviewers we have consulted about the contents of Volumes 13 and 14. As far as we know, Current Ornithology is the only English-lan­ guage publication currently devoted exclusively to extensive reviews and syntheses of topics pertaining to all aspects of the biology of birds. Its chapters deal with subjects falling under such diverse rubrics as ecology, evolution, behavior, phylogeny, behavioral ecology, anatomy and physiology, and conservation biology, but all focus primarily on birds. Its authors, whether members of the National Academy or young investigators just beginning their careers, are leading authorities on their subjects, and its referees are selected for their knowledge and expertise in the topics covered by the chapters they are asked to review.

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Physiological, Ecological, and Evolutionary Bases for the Avoidance of Chemical Irritants by Birds; L. Clark. Temporal Flexibility in Avian Reproduction: Patterns and Mechanisms; T.P. Hahn, et al. Sexual Selection and the Evolution of Song Repertoires; S.A. MacDougall-Shackleton. Social Dominance in Birds: Early Findings and New Horizons; W.H. Piper. Energy Management in Passerine Birds During the Nonbreeding Season: A Review; V.V. Pravosudov, T.C. Grubb, Jr. Motor Correlates of Vocal Diversity in Songbirds; R.A. Suthers, F. Goller. Index.