Ornithology

Bailey, Harold H., The Birds of Florida (limited edition, privately printed for the author by Williams & Wilkins, 1925). Ornithologist Bailey (1878-1952) was the son of a prominent American ornithologist; his two great works are The Birds of Virginia and this volume (he was also noted marrying the widow of another great ornithologist, Eugene Law; their papers are in the collections at Virginia Tech). The Birds of Florida bears comparison with those of Audubon; 475 species and subspecies are covered, and the 76 color illustrations by George Sutton are breath-taking. A singular volume for birders. Hardcover, no dust jacket. Very good condition. HBB price: $175.

Gould, John, Hummingbirds (Wellfleet Press, 1st ed., 1990). ISBN 1-55521-661-7. This large (14.5” x 10”) volume does justice to the life’s work of John Gould (1804-1881), Curator of the Zoological Society of London. Author of Birds of Australia, Birds of Europe and Birds of Great Britain, Gould produced Hummingbirds in a series of volumes between 1849 and 1860. In 1880 he undertook a supplement; his colleague, Richard Bowdler Sharpe, completed and published it after Gould’s death. This volume collects all 418 illustrations by Gould, and the notes on each. A work worthy of comparison to Audubon. Hardcover unclipped dust jacket showing some wear along the front bottom; otherwise, very good condition. HBB price: $79.95.