Drawn from paradise : the discovery, art and natural history of the birds of paradise

Drawn from Paradise is David Attenborough's journey through the cultural history of the birds of paradise, one of the most exquisite and extravagant, colourful and intriguing families of birds. From the moment they were introduced to the European mind in the early sixteenth century, their unique beauty was recognised and commemorated in the first name that they were given - birds so beautiful must be birds from paradise. In this unique exploration of a truly awe-inspiring family of birds which to this day is still shrouded in mystery, David Attenborough and Errol Fuller trace the natural history of these enigmatic birds through their depiction in western works of art throughout the centuries, featuring beautiful illustrations by such luminary artists as Jacques Barraband, William Hart, John Gould, Rubens and Breughel, to name but a few. Experienced ornithologists and general nature and art enthusiasts alike will delight in this journey of discovery of the world's most beautiful and mysterious birds. David Attenborough is one of the world's leading television broadcasters. His interest in the Birds of Paradise began at a very early age, leading to various expeditions to New Guinea to see them in the wild. The award-winning documentary Attenborough in Paradise fulfilled a dream to record in the wild the courtship display of these magnificent birds. Errol Fuller is well known for his books on extinction and extinct species, as well as an artist and collector of natural history material. He is passionate about the Birds of Paradise. The first of the family : genus Paradisaea -- The twelve-wired bird : genus Seleucidis -- The king and his cousins : genus Cicinnurus -- The head-plumed dancers : genus Parotia -- The superb bird : genus Lophorina -- The sicklebills : genus Epimachus and genus Drepanornis -- The highlanders : genus Astrapia -- The riflebirds : genus Ptiloris -- The final glories : genus Semioptera and genus Pteridophora with genus Astrapia -- The meaning of the dances -- Hybrids -- Appendix. People associated with the discovery and visual representation of birds of paradise.;From the moment they were introduced to the European mind in the early sixteenth century, their unique beauty was recognised and commemorated in the first name that they were given -- birds so beautiful they must be birds from paradise.