Edited with an introduction and text by James Fisher, revised by John Parslow
Archibald Thorburn (186o--1935) is now recognised as an outstanding illustrator of animals and in particular of the birds of western Europe. His four-volume British Birds, first published in 1915-16, is not only a classic of ornithology but also a collector's piece.
In this newly revised edition, the 82 magnificent watercolour plates, notable not only for their high scientific accuracy and exactness of detail, but also for their distinction as works of art, depict over 400 birds of the British Isles.
James Fisher's text concentrates on giving a service, which by their very nature the highly authoritative standard field guides have not the room to do. Updated to 1973, the latest year for which full published information is available, it provides a really up-to-date report on the global distribution of each species and on its status and history in the four countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, with special reference to changes and conservation problems. Also discussed in their appropriate places are those species not illustrated by Thorburn and those not recorded from the British Isles in his time.
John Parslow is an ornithologist of wide experience. One of his main interests is bird distribution, on which he has carried out special surveys for the Nature Conservancy, the British Ornithologists' Union, the International Council for Bird Preservation and the Council of Europe. He has held research posts with the British Trust for Ornithology, the Edward Grey Institute at Oxford, and the Natural Environment Research Council, and is currently Deputy Director (Conservation) of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.