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From today's featured article Title page of the first volume A History of the Birds of Europe, including all the Species inhabiting the Western Palearctic Region is a nine-volume ornithological book published in parts between 1871 and 1882. It is mainly written by Henry Eeles Dresser, although Richard Bowdler Sharpe co-authored the earlier volumes. The book describes all the bird species reliably recorded in the wild in Europe and adjacent geographical areas with similar fauna, giving their worldwide distribution, variations in appearance and migratory movements. It was published as 84 quarto parts, each typically containing 56 pages of text and eight plates of illustrations, the latter mainly by the Dutch artist John Gerrard Keulemans, and bound into permanent volumes when all the parts were published. In total, 339 copies were made, at a cost to each subscriber of £52 10s. Birds of Europe was well received by its contemporary reviewers, although Dresser's outdated views and the cost of his books meant that in the long run his works had limited influence. (Full article...)
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Mephitids are members of Mephitidae, a family of mammals, comprising the skunks and stink badgers, in the order Carnivora. The skunks of the family are widespread across the Americas, while the stink badgers are found in the Greater Sunda Islands of southeast Asia. The species inhabit a variety of habitats, though typically grassland, forest, and shrubland. Most mephitids are 20–50 cm (8–20 in) long, plus a 10–40 cm (4–16 in) tail. The twelve species of Mephitidae are split into four genera: the monotypic Conepatus, hog-nosed skunks; Mephitis, skunks (species pictured); Mydaus, stink badgers; and Spilogale, spotted skunks. Mephitidae was traditionally a clade within the family Mustelidae, with the stink badgers combined with other badgers within the genus Melinae, but more recent genetic evidence has resulted in the consensus to separate Mephitidae into its own family. (Full list...)
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Notre-Dame Basilica is a Catholic basilica in the historic district of Old Montreal, in Montreal, the most populous city in Quebec, Canada. The main construction work took place between 1824 and 1829; the sanctuary was finished in 1830, the first tower in 1841, and the second in 1843. The Irish-American architect James O'Donnell designed the towers to be traditionally Gothic, and intended them to be visible from any point in the city. On its completion, the church was the largest in North America, and remained so for over fifty years. The interior of the church, shown here, is amongst the most dramatic in the world and regarded as a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture. The vaults are coloured deep blue and decorated with golden stars, and the rest of the sanctuary is decorated in blues, azures, reds, purples, silver, and gold. It is filled with hundreds of intricate wooden carvings and several religious statues. Photograph credit: David Iliff
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