Daniel Giraud Elliot (1835-1915) was an American zoologist and the founder of the American Ornithologist Union. In mid-life he produced this monograph on Birds of Paradise to which he was first attracted to by "their strange forms and brilliant plumage" (Preface). The magnificent plates featuring the artist's original oil paintings bring the beautiful creatures to life for modern readers. A fabulous addition to a bird lover's library - if there's space for it.