As a small little one I used to be fascinated by animals, but it surely was when a pair of Blackbirds nested near the home that I actually turned excited about birds. I needed to study extra about them, so my dad and mom gave me the 5 shillings I wanted to purchase my first hen guide: The Observer’s E book of Birds. This charming little guide was first printed in 1937: my copy was the brand new version, which got here out in January 1952. I used to be 5 after I acquired my guide, and inside little or no time I had learn each web page, and absorbed quite a few information and figures. I’d studied the illustrations, too – they have been in each color and black and white, and painted by the main birds artists of the early twentieth century, principally J.G. Keulemans (a Dutch artist who lived in England) and Archibald Thorburn.
First printed in 1937, the Observer’s E book of Birds remained in print for a few years. This cowl illustration of Fieldfares was the work of the Dutch illustrator John G. Kuelemans
I’d look wistfully on the image of the Hoopoe, a hen I might solely dream of seeing, or the elusive Bittern, however I quickly learnt all of the acquainted birds I might discover round my dwelling, reminiscent of Linnets and Goldfinches, Swallows and Swifts. The textual content was written by S.Vere Benson, the Hon. Sec. of the Hen-Lovers’ League. The S apparently stood for Stephana, however she by no means allowed her full title to be printed. I’m certain that she will need to have been a formidable girl of sturdy opinions. She described the Cuckoo, for instance, as not being an admirable hen, “being polyandrous and a parasite, with out look after its younger”, whereas the Sparrowhawk “is without doubt one of the worst enemies of its tribe to small birds”. She describes the launched Little Owl as “a fierce little foreigner”, whereas the Kingfisher is “a gem amongst birds, so brightly colored as virtually to dazzle the attention in sure lights”.
The texts within the Observer’s E book of Birds are informative however easy
All the main species have been illustrated, described, then supplied with particulars of their Hang-out, Nest, Eggs, Meals and Notes (track). I really like the phrase hang-out, which could be very a lot a phrase of its time, and fell from use years in the past. Shopping by means of the guide brings again recollections of the delight of my early days discovering birds, reminiscent of seeing my first Lesser Noticed Woodpecker in a pal’s backyard, then studying about it within the guide. That woodpecker was, I keep in mind, in an apple tree: I learn that this “tiny woodpecker… could also be distinguished by its small measurement”, whereas its Hang-out was merely “Amongst bushes”.
Not all of the species within the Observer’s E book of Birds have been illustrated in color. The Hoopoe was one species that might have been significantly better in color
Miss Benson’s strongest level was undoubtedly describing hen calls (their so-called notes). How higher might you describe the track of the Nightjar than “A purring sound like a sewing-machine working”, or the Noticed Flycatcher’s “excessive squeak, like a wheelbarrow with a rusty wheel”? As for the Bearded Tit, “A twanging ‘ping’” describes it completely.
The album for Hen Portraits (1957). It was illustrated by a collection of fifty playing cards: a single card was given free in each packet of Brooke Bond P.G.Ideas Tea, however gathering the entire set might take many months
Nearly as nice an affect in my early curiosity in birds have been the playing cards given away “within the pursuits of schooling” in packets of Brooke Bond P.G.Ideas tea. Hen Portraits, a collection of British birds illustrated and described by C.F.Tunnicliffe RA, was inspirational. I nonetheless regard Charles Tunnicliffe as one of many biggest of British hen artists, and everybody of the 50 playing cards within the Hen Portraits collection is a delight, from the imperious Peregrine Falcon, perched on a cliff with a clump of sea pink, to the Purple Grouse flying over a rugged heather moor. As a small boy I collected the playing cards avidly, swapping playing cards I had duplicates of with pals in school for these I used to be nonetheless lacking. I’ve nonetheless acquired my unique Hen Portraits album, every card glued into its allotted area.
A trio of raptors from Tunnicliffe’s British Birds
I’ve little doubt the Tunnicliffe will need to have contemplated lengthy and onerous which birds to pick for the 50 birds featured. I wouldn’t be stunned if he selected the birds he greatest preferred as an instance. His alternative ranged from the Home Sparrow to the Golden Eagle, and many of the birds are these readily encountered within the British Isles. There are a couple of surprises although, such because the Roseate Tern, by far the rarest of the 5 species that nest in Britain. His alternative is perhaps defined by the truth that he lived on the Welsh island of Anglesey, which then nonetheless had a small variety of nesting Roseate Terns.
Charles Tunnicliffe’s illustrations for British Birds have a particular attraction
The success of British Birds led to Tropical Birds. Observe the extra vibrant cowl to the album, in contrast with the sooner British Birds. The hen depicted is a Cock of the Rock
Tunnicliffe was an artist not a author, however his quick, pithy texts are glorious, capturing the important particulars of every of the 50 birds featured within the collection. British Birds was so profitable that it was finally adopted by Tropical Birds.
African exotics from Tunnicliffe’s Tropical Birds. I’ve by no means been lucky sufficient to have seen the Angolan Pitta, considered one of Africa’s most elusive birds
Lots of the birds featured in Tropical Birds I’ve seen within the wild, starting from the Bateleur Eagle to the Magnificent Frigate Hen, however ever since I first checked out Tunnicliffe’s portrait of a Scarlet Cock of the Rock it’s been my ambition to see one “within the deep forests of northern Peru and the higher reaches of the Amazon” the place “the flame-coloured birds have their dwelling”. Sadly, I’ve but to journey to the Amazon. I additionally must admit that regardless of my enthusiasm for gathering Brooke Bond’s tea playing cards, I by no means turned a tea drinker, so I’m probably not a typical Englishman.
To be concluded.