the first book on parrots in captivity

'This was the first book to deal exclusively with parrots in captivity and the last book illustrated by Alexander Francis Lydon and Benjamin Fawcett, the inventor of chromoxylography' (Wantrup).

Greene's classic 'account of the habits of 81 varieties of parrots (including cockatoos, macaws, parakeets, etc.) with special reference to their behaviour in cage or aviary', in which he advocated caging parrots for their own safety and happiness (Zimmer). The fine plates are by Benjamin Fawcett (1808-1893) from drawings by his former apprentice, Alexander Francis Lydon (1836-1917). Fawcett and Lydon are best known for their works in (colour) wood engraving, the present work being an example of their chromoxylographical skills.

First edition; 3 vols; 8vo (25.5 x 18 cm); 81 chromoxylographs, some hand-finished, bookplates to front pastedown, minor restoration to gutter margin of vol. II frontispiece, slight spotting to vol. II else internally clean; publisher's green pictorial cloth, gilt vignette of macaw to upper boards, spines lettered in gilt and dated '1892', top-edge gilt, slight shelf wear, housed in a later green cloth slip case, green morocco lettering-piece to spine, a very good copy.

McGill/Wood 368; Nissen IBV, 393; Nissen SVB, 215; Zimmer p.274; Fine Bird Books 79; Wantrup p.616.