The Birds of Australia, Vol. 5 of 7

"The Birds of Australia, Vol. 5 of 7" by John Gould is a scientific publication written in the mid-19th century. This volume is part of a comprehensive series exploring various bird species native to Australia, characterized by detailed descriptions and illustrations of their physical attributes and ecological habits. The focus of this work is on an array of birds, particularly species of cockatoos and parrots, showcasing their unique features and behaviors. At the start of the volume, the author introduces various species of cockatoos, illustrating them alongside descriptions of their habitats, feeding habits, and the characteristics that distinguish them. Gould emphasizes the variability in bird species’ diets, from seeds to native flora, while highlighting their social behaviors as they move in flocks across the Australian landscape. The introductory sections lay a foundation for understanding the rich avian diversity found in Australia and set the stage for a detailed examination of each bird species included in the volume. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Gould was an English ornithologist who published monographs on birds, illustrated by plates produced by his wife, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists, including Edward Lear, Henry Constantine Richter, Joseph Wolf and William Matthew Hart. He has been considered the father of bird study in Australia and the Gould League in Australia is named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Gould's work is referenced in Charles Darwin's book, On the Origin of Species.