An early illustration of the Tui bird of New Zealand

FORSTER, Johann Georg.

Poe-Bird, New-Zealand.
London: Strahan and Cadell, 1777. 225 x 185mm.

Illustration of a poe-bird, known also as a 'tui' or 'parson bird', sitting on a flowering branch of Fuchsia excorticata (Onagraceae), sketched by Georg Forster, who accompanied his father Johann on Cook's Second Voyage as the expedition's naturalists. Because of conflicts with Cook, Georg Forster decided to publish his own account of the voyage, which appeared six weeks before this official account. In revenge the Forsters were neither credited or paid for the use of their work in the official account.


Stock ID : 17115