THE BREEDING BIRDS OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND: A HISTORICAL SURVEY. By John Parslow.

1973 1st edition. 8vo (157 x 244mm). Pp272. B/w chapter heading vignettes of birds by Rosemary Parslow, b/w distribution maps bibliography. Honey-coloured boards, spine titled in gilt.

This book is a historical survey based on the author's "invaluable series of eight papers which first appeared in British Birds in 1967-68, 'Status changes Among Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland.' The original text has been corrected, new material added, and now forms the Specific List section of the book, summarising the status and distribution of all species of wild birds known to have bred in Britain and Ireland since 1800. In addition, the species accounts note fluctuations which have occurred and give their cause wherever these are known or may be surmised". The author also reviews extinctions, colonisations and changes in breeding populations in general, showing that there were, at time of publication, "more bird species breeding in Britain and Ireland today than at any time since 1800". A chapter each on: Divers: Grebes; Petrels; Gannets and cormorants; Herons; ducks, geese and swans; Birds of prey; Game birds; Rails, crakes, bustard; Waders, gulls, auks; Sandgrouse and doves; Cuckoo; Owls; Night jar and swift; Kingfisher, bee-eater, hoopoe; Woodpeckers; Passerine birds; Summary of changes. An appendix gives the then up to date status and distribution of breeding birds in Britain and Ireland.