The Romance of Natural History, Second Series

Name: The Romance of Natural History, Second Series
Author: Philip Henry Gosse

By Philip Henry Gosse

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About This Book

A series of essays surveys vanished and vanishing animals through fossil, museum, and field evidence, describing large extinct mammals and birds alongside island and more recent extinctions. Geological context and depositional settings are invoked to infer timing and preservation of remains and to relate land‑ and sea‑level changes to faunal turnover. Oral traditions, reported encounters, and egg and bone measurements are weighed to evaluate claims of recent survival and to reconstruct life habits. Human agency, hunting, and environmental change are discussed as contributing causes, and tentative estimates and reflections are offered on the rates and dynamics of species loss.

About the Author

Philip Henry Gosse

Philip Henry Gosse was a 19th-century English naturalist and writer, renowned for his contributions to the fields of natural history and geology. His works often reflect a deep fascination with the natural world, as seen in his notable book "A Year at the Shore," which captures the beauty and diversity of coastal life. Gosse's detailed studies of Jamaican birds, exemplified in "Illustrations of the Birds of Jamaica," showcase his dedication to ornithology. Additionally, his philosophical exploration in "Omphalos: An Attempt to Untie the Geological Knot" highlights his efforts to reconcile scientific inquiry with theological perspectives. Through his writings, Gosse has left a lasting impact on the appreciation of nature and the study of its complexities.