How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts · Concept

Visual Perception and Deception

Through woodcut illustrations and poetic descriptions, the book explores how similar silhouettes, shapes, and colors can trick the eye, emphasizing the unreliability of appearances.

The chapter contrasts the physical appearances of the quail and kale, showing how visual cues can be misleading.

The cowbird picture is described as 'absolutely incorrect', illustrating how visual representations can deceive.

The chapter highlights how insects and plants use mimicry to deceive predators and botanists.

The chapter highlights how visual cues, specifically color, are crucial for distinguishing between a bird and a tree.

Characters

the Birds
The Doe, the Dodo

Chapters

The Quail; The Kale
The Cow Bird; The Cowslip
The Blue Mountain Lory; The Blue Morning Glory
The Jay; The Bay
The Eel; The Eelephant
The Ray; The Raven
The Cow; The Cowry
The Pansy; The Chim‑pansy

Themes