Transcriber’s Notes:
In the fourth essay, the reference to Purchas bis Pilgrimage has been corrected to Purchas his Pilgrimage.
Inconsistent hyphenation (Zuidland/Zuid-land) has been retained.
About This Book
A collection of scholarly essays surveys early observations and interpretations of bird life, especially in the southern hemisphere, by examining travelers' narratives, printed illustrations, and museum specimens. Individual pieces address legendary large birds in medieval accounts, penguins and associated seals in specific harbors, the birds of the Banda Islands, the origin and use of the name emu, and early records of Australian and New Zealand avifauna. The author compares historical descriptions and plates to modern identifications, highlighting how voyage reports and etymology influenced ornithological knowledge.