MUSINGS OF AN AFGHAN FALCONER. By Sirdar Mohamed Osman.

2005 1st edition. 8vo (151 x 220mm). Ppxxxii,238,i. Tipped-in colour and b/w plates, b/w photographs, folding plate, pictorial end-papers. Untitled red cloth.

In a sequel to his 2001 title, "Falconry in the Land of the Sun", celebrated Afghan falconer Sirdar Mohamed Osman gives the world a unique view both of falconry and of his native land. Osman comes from a long line of falconers, and has flown many raptors himself. He discusses the birds of prey of Afghanistan, as well as giving us a view of his country, its proverbs, history and agriculture. Osman is the leading authority on birds of prey of Agfhanistan and Northern India. He has also written on birds of prey for the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society and for the Eryr Press. In addition to this book's discussion of raptors, a complete list of all Afghan gamebirds is also included, with discussion of Afghan ornithology in general. Well illustrated with drawings by Capt. Robert A. Widmeier, who was stationed in India in 1943. The preliminary pages of the 625 cloth-bound copies are printed on hemp paper. The spine is untitled and the binding is not of the highest quality. It has 5 tipped-in plates while the paperbound issue has three. The number of all issues printed totals 985 copies.