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This beautiful hand-colored engraving, by Prideaux John Selby, depicts a female bustard standing alongside a two-month-old(?) juvenile. The detailed rendering of the plumage, with its intricate pattern of browns and rusts, is characteristic of Selby’s famous attention to avian biology. The adult bird's stature contrasts with the small, fluffy juvenile, adding a sense of scale to the scene. The grassy terrain and subtle botanical elements below the birds contribute to the naturalistic quality of the image. This engraving is part of Selby’s larger series on British birds, which sought to provide accurate illustrations of bird species, capturing their appearance and behavior in their natural environments.
The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is one of the heaviest flying birds, native to open grasslands and farmlands across Europe. Once widespread in the UK, the species became extinct there by the 19th century due to hunting and habitat loss, though reintroduction efforts are underway.
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.
![Roller M[ale]. Plate XXXIV.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/101182.jpg)
