Glimpses of Paradise: The Quest for the Beautiful ParrakeetThis book follows the story of the Paradise Parrot, beginning in 1844, when John Gilbert spotted it on the Condamine River in Queensland. Gilbert wrote to his employer John Gould, in London, describing his find as a without exception the most beautiful of the whole tribe I have ever seen in Australiaa . Gould named it the Beautiful Parrakeet. In this highly illustrated book, author Penny Olsen takes us on a journey of discoverya from Gilberta s first observations of the parrot in 1844 to recent claims of sightings and the intrigue surrounding them. The story of the Beautiful Parrakeet combines elements of the history of exploration and settlement of Australia, human exploitation of the rare and unobtainable, a conservation tale, the endless allure of a lost species, and the facts of this singular birda s fate. |
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Contents
A sacrifice to their ardour | 11 |
As soberly clad as her mate is gay | 41 |
A Queenslander | 57 |
A desirable addition to our aviaries | 75 |
The whole episode reeks of mystery | 93 |
from parrot nests to tennis courts | 111 |
Search for the beautybird of the Burnett | 137 |
Common terms and phrases
adult Alec appears Australia aviaries aviculturist Barnard Beautiful Parrakeet believed birds Birds of Australia breeding Brisbane Cape captivity Carl Lumholtz chapter Chisholm claimed close clutch collected collector colour Creek Cyril Darling Downs described district early Edward eggs evidence expedition extinct female Field five Gilbert Golden-shouldered Parrot Gould grass illustrated interest Irby Jerrard John journal June known late later Leichhardt letter living London look lost male March miles months moths mound Museum natural natural history naturalist nest never noted observations ornithologist pair Paradise Parrot photograph Psephotus pulcherrimus published Queensland range rare received recorded remains reported returned River seen sent shows sightings skins South Wales species specimens Station suggested Sydney taken termite mounds told travelled trees Wildlife wrote York young
Popular passages
Page 242 - Descriptive Catalogue of the Nests and Eggs of Birds found Breeding in Australia and Tasmania