Thorburn's Birds

Hardback. Foxing to end inside covers and edge. Browning and slight marks to D/J. Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935) is now recognised as an outstanding illustrator of animals and in particular of the birds of western Europe. His four-volume, British Birds, first published in 1915-16, is not only a classic of ornithology but also a collector's piece. In this new single-volume edition the 82 maginificent watercolour plates, notable not only for their high scientific accuracy and exactness of detail, but also for thier distinction as works of art, depict over 400 of the 467 (or so) species that are being seriously considered for formal admission to the British-Irish List of 1967. James Fisher's new text concentrates on giving a service which by their very nature the highly authoritative standard field guides have not room to do. It provides a really up-to-date report on the global distribution of each species and on its status and history in the four countries of England, Wales, Scotland and ireland, with special reference to changes and conservation problems. Also discussed in their appropriate places are those species not illustrated by Thorburn and those not recorded from Britain in his time. Illustrated. 184 pp. (We carry a wide selection of titles in The Arts, Theology, History, Politics, Social and Physical Sciences. academic and scholarly books and Modern First Editions ,and all types of Academic Literature.).…