The author of the artice gives a critical review of V.I. Mordvintseva's book Polikhromnyj zverinyj stil' («Polychrome animal style») published in 2003 in Simferopol. In the critic's opinion, the book, conceived as a comprehensive study of the problem, is very disappointing. The general approach of the study is disputable, but the main weakness lies in misleading interpretations of some objects in question.