Whose bird? : men and women commemorated in the common names of birds
"Birders often wonder who exactly is being commemorated in the names of many of our most familiar bird species. Was Bonaparte's Gull named after Napoleon? Who was the Lady Amherst whose name graces one of the world's most alluring pheasants? Was the same Gray behind both the Grasshopper Warbler and the Lark? (And, if so, did he discover both birds on the same journey?). Whose Bird? answers all these questions, and many more, by presenting - in a handy A-Z format - a potted biography of every individual who has ever given their name to a species of bird." "In total, 2,246 birds and 1,124 people are covered. Each biography describes the life and work of the person concerned, and collectively they offer a fascinating insight into bygone ages of scientific exploration and endeavour. Information boxes scattered throughout the book detail many astonishing - and often bizarre - facts and statistics, and the engaging text is enhanced throughout with numerous portraits of its subjects."--BOOK JACKET
Print Book, English, ©2003
Christopher Helm, London, ©2003