Lapwings, Loons and Lousy Jacks

Erscheinungsjahr 2016
ISBN: 978-1-78427-092-6
Verlag: Pelagic Publishing Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 303 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 680 g

The Lapwing once had many regional names; the Loon has a British-American identity crisis and the respectable-sounding Apostlebird is often called a Lousy Jack. Why do bird names, both common and scientific, change over time and why do they vary so much between different parts of the English-speaking world? Wandering through the scientific and cultural history of ornithology takes us to the heart of understanding the long relationship between birds and people.

Lapwings, Loons and Lousy Jacks uncovers the stories behind the incredible diversity of bird names, explains what many scientific names actually mean and takes a look at the history of the system by which we name birds. Ray Reedman explores the natural history and folklore behind bird names, in doing so unlocking the mystery of the name Scoter, the last unexplained common name of a British bird species.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Reedman, Ray

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Tierkunde / Zoologie Wirbeltiere (Vertebrata) Vögel (Ornithologie)
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Taxonomie und Systematik
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften, Biologie: Sachbuch, Naturführer
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Naturwissenschaften, Technik, Medizin

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction

Historical Perspectives

Roots and routes

Widening horizons

Frameworks

The milestones

Developments before Linnaeus

Linnaeus and the Linnaean System

The evolution of formal English names

Inside the System

The matrix

Classic deviations

The names behind the names

Things in their place

Cardinal points

And the scientists didn’t always do so well

Warts and all

The names and the stories

New Horizons

North American names - Crossing the Great Divide

Australian names - Let’s go fossicking

Trinidadian names – The Tropical Trail

Journey’s End

Appendix: The Legends behind the Names

Bibliography

Über Autor(innen)

Reedman, Ray
Ray Reedman combines his love of birds and travel with a deep understanding of language and history. As a retired Senior Master of a successful independent school Ray rekindled a life-long love of the natural world by teaching courses on ornithology and travelling the world to watch birds.