Beschreibung:

Daniel Giraud Elliot (1835-1915) A Monograph of the Tetraoninae, or Family of the Grouse . New York: published by the author, [1864]-1865. Large 2° (596 x 465mm). 27 lithographic plates, comprising 25 fine hand-coloured plates of birds, 24 after Elliot, one after J. Wolf, lithographed by C. F. Tholey, and 2 hand-coloured plates of eggs after W. S. Morgan, all printed and coloured by Bowen and Co., Philadelphia. 'Notice to Binder' slip loosely inserted. (Plates mounted on guards, occasional light offsetting and isolated spotting, the first plate restored at inner and outer margins, a few other small repairs, plate showing Tetrao Urogallus slightly shaved at one margin.) Modern green half morocco with gilt-tooled label on upper cover, spine gilt. A MAGNIFICENT MONOGRAPH ON ONE OF THE GREAT GAME BIRDS OF EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA, the first two of the five parts appearing in 1864. As Elliot observes, the Tetraonidae (Grouse and Partridges) belong with five other families, including the Phasianidae or Pheasants, to the Order Rasores or scrapers, 'so called from the habit possessed by its members of scratching the ground for the purpose of procuring their food.' He identifies twenty-two species, fourteen of which are found in North America, and divides them into three groups, the wood, mountain and plain grouse. The admiration expressed in the introduction for their 'graceful forms, erect carriage, and gallant bearing,' are exactly the qualities conveyed in his magnificent plates. Plate 11, the Siberian Spruce Grouse, is contributed by Joseph Wolf Anker 128; Fine Bird Books p. 74; Nissen IVB 293; Wood p. 331; Zimmer p. 205.