Observations of the Natural History of the Swallowtribe. to Which Is Added a General Catalogue of British Birds

Thomas Ignatius M. Forster

ISBN 10: 0371606705 / ISBN 13: 9780371606704

Published by HardPress Ltd, 2021

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Seller Inventory # B9780371606704

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Observations of the Natural History of the Swallowtribe. to Which Is Added a General Catalogue of British Birds
• Publisher: HardPress Ltd
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0371606705
• ISBN 13: 9780371606704
• Binding: Paperback / softback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 526 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Observations Of The Natural History Of The Swallowtribe. To Which Is Added A General Catalogue Of British Birds by Thomas Forster presents a comprehensive early 19th-century examination of swallows, their migration, and the question of brumal torpidity. The text assembles evidence from ancient and contemporary naturalists, including discussions of migratory behavior across Europe and Africa, reports of swallows found torpid in walls, rivers, and caves, and accounts from mariners at sea. Forster weighs competing hypotheses, argues that swallows are migratory birds, and considers the possibility that some individuals may overwinter in concealed retreats. The work also includes a detailed anatomical and behavioral description of swallow species in Europe, with an annotated list of global Hirundo species and a nearly complete General Catalogue of British Birds appended with provincial names. The Sixth Edition is enlarged and illustrated with wood engravings, reflecting its status as a classical reference in ornithology. It blends natural history, philology, and early scientific method to explore the life cycles and distribution of the swallow tribe.