Eleanor H. Stickney's fascinating work, The "Whys" of Bird Names, will have readers entranced from beginning to end, or enjoying this book as a reference through which to thumb. Drawing from a wide variety of backgrounds for bird names, Ms. Stickney addresses mythology, royalty, history, ladies, gentlemen, appearance, Greek and Latin names, and many others in this well-researched chronicle of the origins of bird names. Tracing an arc through history, early ornithologists are cited and recorded as the roots of some of the captivating names of some of nature's most well-loved creatures. Birds are named after who discovered them, after well-loved ladies and young children, after biblical characters, mythological gods and goddesses, what they resemble (according to the human eye), and from the climate in which they make their home. A mesmerizing glimpse into the whys and wherefores, The "Whys" of Bird Names have "fascinated man since earliest times. They seem to come and go and have mysterious ways. They come in all shapes, colors, and habits. This interested and intrigued man so he gave them names. We will search the why, where, when, for whom and by whom, and for what reason they received the names we now associate with them." For the professional ornithologist, the avid bird-watcher, or the just-getting-started learner, The "Whys" of Bird Names provides an excellent reference, jumping off point, and enchanting glimpse into the birds of the world. Book jacket.