A History of British Birds by William Yarrell - 1881-1884

London: John Van Voorst, 1881-1884. Leather. Good. 9" by 6". None. A complete four volume set of this ornithological study of British birds. Four volumes. Fourth edition. Illustrated with 564 in-text wood-engravings. An ornithological study of British birds and a handbook or field guide systematically describing every species of bird known to occur in Britain. This work quickly became the standard reference work for a generation of British ornithologists due to its increased scientific accuracy. Yarrell, originally a newsagent without university education, corresponded widely with eminent naturalists including Carl Linnaeus, Coenraad Jacob Temminck and Thomas Pennant to collect accurate information on the hundreds of species illustrated in the work. Written by William Yarrell, an English zoologist, prolific writer, bookseller and naturalist admired by his contemporaries for his precise scientific work. In the original half green calf binding with cloth boards. Externally, sound with bumping and rubbing to the extremities. Minor loss to the head and tail of the spine and edges of boards. Volume I joints stating but firm. Volumes III and IV spine labels are scratched. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright and clean with the odd spot. Good