Great Auk

Rating:
Summary: stunning
Review: a volume with meticulous research, and also a sad inventory of the last specimens of this extinct bird. Let us hope there won't be too many books in this serie.

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Summary: An Aukful story of extinction
Review: Ask anyone you know with even a cursory knowledge of birds and animals to name you an extinct species. After the Dodo, the Great Auk will probably be the most frequently mentioned name. The reason the story of the Auk's extinction has remained in our brains, in the recesses yes, but remembered nevertheless, is because of the sheer size and horrific destruction associated with the hunting to extinction of the bird.

The book deals not just with the hunting of these large flightless birds (think Penguin) for food but also looks at what their feathers, fat and oils were used for. Other subjects include the history of the trade, a full description of the birds appearance and it's behaviour. Although the last bird died in 1844 the story does not end with their demise. Fuller talks about the stuffed specimens and the eggs and how the greed associated with the Auk's extinction continued in the behavoir of collectors and museums.

Plenty of color illustrations. Gift for a bird lover.

Rating:
Summary: The best book ever written on a single account of extinction
Review: Fuller's book cannot possibly be surpassed on its subject, the extinction and remaining artifacts of the The Great Auk. A truly amazing book which details every stuffed auk from around the world, as well as all the egg specimens. Mostly with photographs, the history of how each specimen finally came to its current residence of display is a story in itself. Great detail is given to the obsessive collectors and dealers through the last 150 years also. Forget the price, just buy this book! Fuller's own Auk is photographed extensively in colour. Only question remaining on the subject is, What did Eric Fuller pay for his Greak Auk?"

Rating:
Summary: EXTINCT BIRD LOVERS PARADISE
Review: THIS IS A MOST EXCELLENT AND SUMPTUOUS BOOK.THE AUTHOR COMBINES IN HIS STYLE VICTORIAN IDEAS ABOUT COLLECTING WITH MODERN CONCERNS ABOUT CONSERVATION.A BETTER MAP WOULD BE IN ORDER"TRY FINDING FUNK ISLAND".HE OPINES THAT LIKE THE PASSENGER PIGEON,GREAT AUKS CAN ONLY EXIST IN GREAT NUMBERS"PG.63" HE ALSO DOES NOT TELL US WHAT HE PAID FOR HIS OWN SPECIMEN."PG.141" A BEAUTIFUL AND TECHNICAL BOOK.