From the Foreword: Anyone who has glimpsed a sample of soil animals, especially the soil arthropods, through the binocular microscope will never forget the fascination of their abundant shapes and structures … electron microscopy has added another dimension which multiplies the initial fascination. When I leaf through this atlas my attention is repeatedly caught by the numerous pictures. … the richness of form and function of the soil arthropods has proved to be an inexhaustible source of biological interest. The authors … demonstrate this in a praiseworthy manner. …This atlas offers every teacher the opportunity of rapidly obtaining an overview and thus compiling the most vivid teaching material. … Finally, the index offers easy access to each individual aspect of the subject to those who are motivated to study further.