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Eleazar Albin's book 'Natural
History of Birds' (1738) was an important and early
contribution
to ornithology in England. However, it was not the first, or the most important. Francis Willughby travelled widely in Britain and Europe during the 1660s - studying and recording birds - until his death in 1672. His friend John Ray brought out Willughby's "Ornithologia" in 1676. This was the first standard illustrated textbook on British birds. Albin produced both text and artwork for his own book - the illustrations being hand-colured by his wife and daughters. |
