The story of Darwin and the guanaco was new to me, but must be the inspiration of a scene in The Island by Robert Cushman Murphy where he uses that trick to attract a Laysan Teal. If I recall correctly….
Full disclosure: I searched the word guanaco in Voyage of the Beagle and could not find that scene. So I am embarrassed to admit that I was relying on a French philosopher's account. I will have to look up the scene described in Murphy's book.
Old age- the book is "A Certain Island" by Robert Murphy. Different from Robert Cushman Murphy the ornithologist who studied oceanic birds. In my defense I read Murphy's book and "The Pond" when I was maybe 13. They made a lasting impression on me though, even if that impression did not include the title.
I was stunned by that Edward Lear illo. I thought I was looking at a spread from Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are! Maybe a bit of homage, or theft, going on there? Not sure who was homaging or stealing from whom, actually....
So you may be misunderstanding. The macaw is by Edward Lear. But the "pig, monkey, Stilton cheese" illustration is by Edward Gorey for a 1968 edition of a 19th century book written by Lear. Was Gorey influenced by Sendak's 1964 classic "Where the Wild Things Are"? It's certainly possible. But Gorey had his own highly idiosyncratic style, and in this case, I think the only thing he's imitating is the line from Lear, as a good illustrator should.
Oh, to have been a naturalist in the 19th century! And what a treasure that print by Lear! To have such talent at the age of 19! Your essay is bringing out lots of exclamation marks from me :) Thanks for another delightful read!
The story of Darwin and the guanaco was new to me, but must be the inspiration of a scene in The Island by Robert Cushman Murphy where he uses that trick to attract a Laysan Teal. If I recall correctly….
Full disclosure: I searched the word guanaco in Voyage of the Beagle and could not find that scene. So I am embarrassed to admit that I was relying on a French philosopher's account. I will have to look up the scene described in Murphy's book.
Old age- the book is "A Certain Island" by Robert Murphy. Different from Robert Cushman Murphy the ornithologist who studied oceanic birds. In my defense I read Murphy's book and "The Pond" when I was maybe 13. They made a lasting impression on me though, even if that impression did not include the title.
I was stunned by that Edward Lear illo. I thought I was looking at a spread from Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are! Maybe a bit of homage, or theft, going on there? Not sure who was homaging or stealing from whom, actually....
So you may be misunderstanding. The macaw is by Edward Lear. But the "pig, monkey, Stilton cheese" illustration is by Edward Gorey for a 1968 edition of a 19th century book written by Lear. Was Gorey influenced by Sendak's 1964 classic "Where the Wild Things Are"? It's certainly possible. But Gorey had his own highly idiosyncratic style, and in this case, I think the only thing he's imitating is the line from Lear, as a good illustrator should.
Ha. I knew I should have gone back and checked my facts. Thx for the clarification.
Oh, to have been a naturalist in the 19th century! And what a treasure that print by Lear! To have such talent at the age of 19! Your essay is bringing out lots of exclamation marks from me :) Thanks for another delightful read!