Author: Bendire, C. [I.]
Title: Life histories of North American Birds. [I] [gallinaceous birds, pigeons or doves, and birds of prey] - [II]. From the parrots to the grackles, with special reference to their breeding habits and eggs. [All published].
Description: Washington, DC, The Smithsonian institution, 1892-1995. Two volumes in two. Large 4to (31.1 x 24.3 cm). 980 pp. [viii, 446; viii, 518]; 19 full colour, tissue-guarded plates [12; 7] with explanatory text leaves. Uniform black half cloth over marbled boards. Spines with gilt title. = Classic monograph on the breeding habits and the eggs of North American birds by the American ornithologist and Army Major of German descent, Karl ("Charles") Emil Bendire (1836-1897). "All published of Bendire's monumental work... Detailed accounts of habits and nidification of the species, based on personal familiarity with them in the field as well as on notes and contributions supplied by correspondents and from other sources, rendered the work the most authoritative account of its subject to date" (Zimmer). "Bendire's private collection of 8,000 eggs formed the basis of the egg collection at the Smithsonian Institution ... He made new discoveries about the migration habits of various birds and discovered several new species, including the Bendire's thrasher, Toxostoma bendirei (Wikipedia). The premature death of the author prevented further publication. There are two different editions, one from U. S. National Museum, their Special Bulletin no. 1 and 3 (this item) and Smithonian Contributions to Knowledge volumes 28 and 32. Small labels with number on spine heads and feet; small stamp in the top margins of the front pastedowns and titles, otherwise a very good, clean set. A heavy set, seldom-seen outside North America. Anker, 33, 35; Nissen IVB, 89; Zimmer, p. 53.

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