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This plate by Prideaux John Selby features an adult Lesser Black-Backed Gull alongside its downy chick, capturing the bird’s characteristic plumage and stance. The adult gull is depicted with its slate-gray back, white head and underparts, and yellow bill marked by a red spot near the tip. Selby’s attention to the physical characteristics and postures of both the adult and juvenile stages makes this work a valuable contribution to early ornithological illustration.
The Lesser Black-Backed Gull (Larus fuscus) is widely distributed across Europe, where it inhabits coastal cliffs, islands, and occasionally inland waterways. Known for its opportunistic diet, this species feeds on a range of food sources, including fish, insects, and discarded human food. During the breeding season, it nests in colonies, often on rocky shores, producing downy chicks as depicted in this plate. Migratory in nature, Lesser Black-Backed Gulls spend winters further south, reaching as far as North Africa and the eastern coasts of North America. Their adaptability has allowed them to thrive in both natural and urban environments, increasingly seen in coastal cities where food sources are plentiful.
Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology
Prideaux John Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology, published between 1821 and 1834, is one of the most significant works in 19th-century ornithological literature. Selby, an English naturalist and artist, produced a two-volume set that featured life-sized depictions of British birds, a departure from earlier works that used smaller formats. His background as both a scientist and an artist allowed him to render birds with remarkable accuracy and beauty.
