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Munias & Mannikins Written by Robin Restall Book Review by Marie Grein |
I purchased Munias And Mannikins by Robin Restall to help solve a mannikin mystery. When I received New Britain Mannikins, I was wrongly informed that they were Five Colored Nuns. A friend looked them up in a book that he had and properly identified them for me. This mannikin mystery piqued my interest in these wonderful little birds. I was amazed at the varieties of munias and mannikins in the wild and that they existed under so many different habitats and environments. I was also surprised at all of the different color combinations they came in. You don't think of the color green or orange when thinking of the munia and mannikin family. Generally brown, beige, black and white are colors that come to mind when thinking of these birds. The cover of this book is simply, but beautifully done. It is well illustrated and attractive, definitely eye catching. I was excited before opening the book itself. (I have to admit, I do have a book fetish !) The book starts out with a history of the classifications of these birds and next moves on to their natural history. Mr. Restall writes of earlier ornithologists and their findings and works, bringing the reader up to current times. I found the information to be very thorough and quite fascinating. Next come the color plates, which are finely detailed and life-like. The known subspecies are pictured as well as color plates of the juveniles. The attention to detail is meticulous. The Systematic Section comes next. He lists the bird's common name followed by it's Latin name, field characters, status, habitat, habits and behaviour, food and feeding, movements, call, song, courtship display, breeding, distribution, description, hybrids (both in the wild and captivity), conservation and references. There are detailed lined drawings in black ink depicting different physical behaviors, the different palate markings in chicks and nest construction among others. There are also maps showing the bird's ranges in the wild. This section is a must for anyone attempting to work with these birds. The information presented is clear, concise and very pertinent, allowing the reader access into the bird's environment and rituals. The information gleaned from this section should give the potential breeder foresight into selecting and maintaining a proper environment and materials for nesting. Next is the measured drawings section. This section has beautiful drawings of various birds and their measurements. The color plates show a side view of the birds. This section shows the underside, back and neck , extended wing views and the angle of the beak. He also shows different feather coloration between the sexes when applicable. Again, there are maps depicting wild populations. This was the author's favorite section of the book. The reader really gets a feel for what the birds really look like, their physical beauty and characteristics. It's almost as if the reader is looking at the actual bird itself. It is here that the author becomes in awe of this incredibly gifted man. This is clearly his life's work and it shows in his attention to every detail. Munias And Mannikins by Robin Restall is a great piece of scientific writing and clearly is a labor of love. It is a beautiful book to look at and interesting to read. Even if one's interest in these birds is minimal, the book will make a convert out of you . It is as much a work of art as a reference guide and I wholeheartedly recommend purchasing this book for your library ! |
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