These illustrations are inspired by Jorge Luis Borges's The Book of Imaginary Beings, published in 1957. The book is a compendium of descriptions of various imaginary creatures from a variety of sources, including mythology, literature, and folklore.

Some of the creatures described in the book are well-known, such as the dragon and the unicorn, while others are more obscure, such as the "Bao A Qu", a creature from Malaysian mythology. 

The book is notable for its erudition and Borges' skillful blending of fact and fiction. Many of the creatures described in the book are entirely fictitious, while others are based on real animals or are drawn from actual cultural traditions. Borges also includes extensive footnotes and references, lending the book an air of scholarly authority.

I imagine the creatures in this series as having evolved on an island, either in the distant past or yet to be future, and the naturalist inspired illustrations serving as evidence for their imaginary existence.