author
J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
1875–1922
A lively early-20th-century naturalist, he wrote accessibly about birds and mammals while building a serious reputation in zoology and ornithology. His work blends field knowledge, scientific curiosity, and a clear enthusiasm for the natural world.
1 Audiobook
Birds of Britain
by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
About the author
John Lewis James Bonhote, usually published as J. Lewis Bonhote, was an English zoologist, ornithologist, and writer born in London on June 13, 1875. He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge, and became known for making natural history readable for a broad audience as well as for his more specialized scientific work.
His career included service as private secretary to the Governor of the Bahamas and later as sub-director of the Zoological Gardens at Giza in Egypt. Bonhote was also active in leading scientific societies, including the British Ornithologists' Union, the British Ornithologists' Club, and the Avicultural Society, which shows how closely he was involved with the study of birds in his time.
He wrote on both birds and mammals, and his books reflect the wide range of his interests. Bonhote died on October 10, 1922, at just 47 years old, but he left behind a body of work that still appeals to readers interested in classic natural history.