Dr Vaidehi Nathan
The Unfeathered Bird Katrina van Grouw, Princeton University Press, Pp 287 (HB), $ 49.95
AS one turns the pages of Katrina van Grouw’s The Unfeathered Bird the story of those fascinating flying species comes alive. She has scientifically dissected their anatomy and their physical engineering marvels the readers’ minds. “The adaptation for flights is the most important factor behind the structure of birds and can provide an explanation for virtually all of their anatomical characteristics—even those that seem to have nothing to do with flying…But it’s important to remember that birds didn’t learn to fly first and develop these perfections afterward. Many of these qualities had long been present in the birds’ Theropod ancestors—the upright dinosaurs that walked on two legs…”
Katrina has divided the book into two parts: Generic and Specific. While the former beginning with the immovable trunk, and moves to the long and flexible neck, the hind limbs and concludes with the wing and the tail, the longer and more substantial Part II deals with individual bird species: Accipitres (vultures, owls), Picae (kingfishers, Hornbill), Anseres (waterfowls, penguins), Grallae (herons, storks), Gallinae (kiwi, bustards), and Passeres (pigeons, nightjars). The distinct features of each of these are stunning. Just for a glance: the Accipitres have hooked down beak and talons, Picae have sharp-edge beak and short, strong legs with feet formed for walking, Anseres have feet formed for swimming, and have smooth bill, covered with soft skin and broader at the point, the beak of the Grallae are subcylindrical and legs are formed for wading, Gallinae on the other hand have a convex beak, with the upper mandible arched over the lower and the legs are shaped for running, and Passeres have beaks conical and pointed and the legs are useful for hopping. The birds’ body has been provided for in relation to their food, habitat and enviroment in which they live.
The book is obviously a labour of love, commitment and patience. Katrina says it is a work that began twenty-five years ago, of which several years were spent convincing someone else that it was a good idea to do the book. It has awesome pictures of the birds’ anatomy. And Katrina makes a disclaimer right at the start, “I must assure readers that no birds were harmed during the making of this book. I relied exclusively on the goodwill of birds dying naturally in places where they could be found and on the goodwill of a great many people who picked them up for me.” She lists a whole lot of people who helped her.
It is a must have book for any bird lover. The book is large frame. Katrina van Grouw, a graduate of the Royal College of Arts and an experienced bird bander has packed her book with 385 beautiful, stunning drawings, so good that the script almost seems superfluous. She is a former curator of the ornithological collection at London’s Natural History Museum and is a taxidermist.
(Princeton University Press, 41, William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540)
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