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This hand-colored engraving by Prideaux John Selby features the Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax), presented in a profile stance on a patch of grassy terrain with scattered foliage. The bird’s plumage is rendered with remarkable detail, capturing the intricate mottling of its brown upper parts and the contrasting white and black patterns on its underparts. The posture conveys the bird’s characteristic alertness.
Included in Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology (1821–1834), this plate represents the Little Bustard, a rare and occasional visitor to Britain, typically found in southern Europe and North Africa. Known for its cryptic behavior and preference for open habitats, the species was a subject of fascination for early ornithologists.
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.
