Jardine made natural history available to all levels of Victorian society by editing and issuing the hugely popular forty volumes of The Naturalist's Library(1833-1843). The 40 volumes is divided into four main sections: Ornithology (14 volumes), Mammalia (13 volumes), Entomology (7 volumes), andIchthyology (6 volumes); each prepared by a leading naturalist. James Duncan wrote the insect volumes. The artists responsible for the illustrations included Edward Lear. The work was published in Edinburgh by W.H Lizars. The frontispiece is a portrait of Latreille
Jardine's other publications included an edition of Gilbert White's Natural History of Selborne which re-established White's reputation, Illustrations of Ornithology (1825-43), and an affordable edition of Alexander Wilson's Birds of America.
Jardine was the author of a number of bird species, alone or in conjunction with his friend Prideaux John Selby.
(Wikipedia)
