The Feathery Tribe: Robert Ridgway and the Modern Study of Birds

Lewis's masterful biography of Ridgway gives us an insight into what it meant to be a professional" biologist in the late nineteenth century. It fills a critical gap in our understanding of the emergence of the life sciences and on the nature of the scientific profession."
- Paul Lawrence Farber, author of "Discovering Birds" and "Finding Order in Nature"

"The roots of all American bird enthusiasts trace squarely back to Robert Ridgway, and Lewis's account of Ridgway and the emergence of a modern ornithology in North America resonates and fascinates."
- Kimball L. Garrett, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, co-author of the "Peterson Field Guide to the Warblers of North America"

"A major contribution to the history of natural history, history of museums, history of American science, as well as history of ornithology[...]. sets a fine standard for biographies that move beyond a narrative into analysis of intellectual and social currents in the field."
- Pamela Henson, American University

"Deftly presented and deeply researched, The Feathery Tribe uses the life and career of Robert Ridgway to tell the story of professionalization in American ornithology. This book fills an important gap in our understanding of the development of modern bird study, while restoring Ridgway to his rightful place of honor among the pantheon of American naturalists."
- Mark V. Barrow, Jr., Virginia Tech, author of "A Passion for Birds" and "Nature's Ghosts"

Daniel Lewis is the Chief Curator of Manuscripts and Dibner Senior Curator of the History of Science and Technology at The Huntington Library in San Marino, CA.