Years ago, in a chapter concerning eyes in a book of Patagonian memories, I spoke of the unpleasant sensations produced in me by the sight of stuffed birds. Not bird skins in the drawers of a cabinet, it will be understood, these being indispensable to the ornithologist, and very useful to the larger class of persons who without being ornithologists yet take an intelligent interest in birds. The unpleasantness was at the sight of skins stuffed with wool and set up on their legs in imitation of the living bird, sometimes (oh ...
Read More
Years ago, in a chapter concerning eyes in a book of Patagonian memories, I spoke of the unpleasant sensations produced in me by the sight of stuffed birds. Not bird skins in the drawers of a cabinet, it will be understood, these being indispensable to the ornithologist, and very useful to the larger class of persons who without being ornithologists yet take an intelligent interest in birds. The unpleasantness was at the sight of skins stuffed with wool and set up on their legs in imitation of the living bird, sometimes (oh, mockery!) in their "natural surroundings." These "surroundings" are as a rule constructed or composed of a few handfuls of earth to form the floor of the glass case-sand, rock, clay, chalk, or gravel; whatever the material may be it invariably has, like all "matter out of place," a grimy and depressing appearance. On the floor are planted grasses, sedges, and miniature bushes, made of tin or zinc and then dipped in a bucket of green paint. In the chapter referred to it was said, "When the eye closes in death, the bird, except to the naturalist, becomes a mere bundle of dead feathers; crystal globes may be put into the empty sockets, and a bold life-imitating attitude given to the stuffed specimen, but the vitreous orbs shoot forth no life-like glances: the 'passion and the life whose fountains are within' have vanished, and the best work of the taxidermist, who has given a life to his bastard art, produces in the mind only sensations of irritation and disgust."
Read Less
Add this copy of Birds and man. to cart. $3.95, fair condition, Sold by Egensman Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Pensacola, FL, UNITED STATES, published 1929 by Alfred A. Knopf.
Add this copy of Birds and Man to cart. $5.62, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2018 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of Birds and Man to cart. $6.43, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of Birds and Man to cart. $7.78, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 120 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of Birds and Man 1920 [Hardcover] to cart. $10.00, good condition, Sold by Friends ofOmaha Public Library rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Omaha, NE, UNITED STATES, published 1920 by Alfred A. Knopf.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. 1916 copy with bright green boards. Boards are pretty marked from rubbing, with some indication of liquid stains. A small area of the stains have gone through to the inside back cover. Boards are only worn through on the corner edges. Title page has a ginko leaf taped on it, leaving impressions on the page next to it. There are some penciled notes written inside the back cover. Binding is cracked at the front cover, but is overall tight. The pages are age discolored, otherwise, they are intact and clean. Definitely a usable copy, book was donated to Friends of the Omaha Public Library.
Add this copy of Birds and Man, to cart. $14.95, good condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1923 by A.A. Knopf.
Add this copy of Birds and Man to cart. $15.30, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2024 by Culturea.
Add this copy of Birds and Man to cart. $18.60, good condition, Sold by Cardinalis Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, ON, CANADA, published 1920 by Duckworth.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Book. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Frontispiece. Owner's name to front endpaper, and some light spotting to front board. Otherwise a clean and unmarked copy. Index. viii, 306pp.