Biographies for Birdwatchers: The Lives of Those Commemorated in Western Palearctic Bird Names

Over one hundred species of Western Palearctic birds bear English or Latin names which commemorate people. But who were Steller, Bonaparte, Fabine, Eleonora and the rest, and how did their names become attached to the various species? The authors of this book were fascinated by just this question; their research into the lives of the people involved have led them on the voyages and travels of the early naturalist explorers, as well as into some intriguing historical backwaters. Almost all of the 91 people described are illustrated in contemporary portraits and every one of the species named is beautifully drawn. The book will delight and fascinate the reader, both as a comprehensive reference and an account of the remarkable achievements of the early ornithologists and collectors.Mearns, Barbara is the author of 'Biographies for Birdwatchers: The Lives of Those Commemorated in Western Palearctic Bird Names', published 1988 under ISBN 9780124874220 and ISBN 0124874223.