North's Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds: Vol 1 (1984)

Second-Hand (Hardcover)

Excellent condition

Alfred North's Nests and Eggs of Birds found breeding in Australia and Tasmania is one of the great works of Australian omithology.

Publication of the first volume, known as the Australian Museum Special Catalogue, began in 1901 and was completed in 1904. Another three volumes appeared in the next 10 years.

It was immediately acclaimed as a major achievement, one reviewer describing it as 'really more of a life history of our birds' than a catalogue on nests and eggs, and it has remained a much-loved and invaluable document for omithologists, amateur and professional, ever since.

As Walter Boles comments in his foreword to this facsimile edition: 'For many years North's work has come closer than any other to filling the role of a handbook of Australian birds'.

North, who was virtually Australia's only professional ornithologist at the tum of the century, endeavoured to present detailed information on the eggs, nests and breeding habits of all Australian birds.

Walter Boles testifies to his lasting success: 'Most of North's information is still valid ... it has been supplemented but rarely replaced.'

Long unavailable except on the rare book market, North's Nests and Eggs now  reappears in an edition which will be welcomed by bird-lovers everywhere.