AN OOLOGICAL RECORD OF BRITISH RAPTORS: INCLUDING BIRD FAMILIES - EAGLES, HAWKS, FALCONS, HARRIERS and OWLS. By Tony Ladd.

2015 1st edition. Folio (304 x 426mm). Pp184. Colour and b/w photographs and illustrations throughout, photograph end-papers, silk marker ribbon. Pictorial laminated boards simulating an old quarter-leather binding, titled in gilt. Edition limited to 400 copies.

A huge and impressive volume illustrated with excellent colour photographs including many full-page, life-size depictions of clutches of birds' eggs. "Through thousands of hours research and visits to the great natural history museums of Great Britain [Tony Ladd] has presented the story of the early naturalist collectors in a beautiful and artistic fashion. Early chapters cover the topic of how birds' eggs are formed in the body and there are also detailed descriptions of how the wonderful diversity of eggshell patterns are applied to the surface. Raptors, the first in a series of nine volumes, covers all of the British breeding birds of prey with detailed analysis of the birds' breeding behaviour. There are full page plates for each species showing the variety of egg-patterning and colours found in each species. "All eggs are shown as life-size and, with Tony Ladd's reprographic expertise, the colour reproduction and quality of all the images is outstanding." The foreword is by Errol Fuller. This is a copy of the standard edition of which, although no limitation has been stated within the book, only 400 copies have been printed. This is the first in a proposed series of nine volumes. Chapters include: Oology explained; Birds' eggs and the law; Collecting mania; Fieldwork pioneers; The egg laid bare; Raptor species - White-tailed eagle; Golden eagle; Common buzzard; Honey buzzard; Osprey; Goshawk; Sparrowhawk; Marsh harrier; Hen harrier; Montagu's harrier; Peregrine falcon; Hobby; Kestrel; Merlin; Tawny owl; Barn owl; Short-eared owl; Long-eared owl; Little owl; Snowy owl.