James Fisher, John Parslow.
Thorburn's Birds: revised edn.
Peerage. 1976
Archibald Thorburn (1860–1935) 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.
Thorburn’s Birds is a revised edition of the famous British Birds and is lavishly illustrated with 82 colour plates depicting over 400 different birds of the British Isles. Each of the watercolour plates are notable not only for their scientific accuracy and exactness of detail, but also for their distinction as works of art.
Thorburn’s superb illustrations are accompanied by a highly informative text by James Fisher, who provides an up-to-date report on the global distribution of each species and on its status and history in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with special reference to changes and conservation problems.