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LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS
Bendire, Charles: LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR BREEDING HABITS AND EGGS. Inscribed 2 VOLUMES U.S. National Museum Special Bulletin #1 Washington, DC: GPO, 1892, 1895. First edition. Illustrated by chromolithographs of watercolors (of eggs) by John L. Ridgway. Inscribed and dated "To Miss Nannie Kelly with the compliments of Chas Bendire, Washington, DC." 10/1/92 and 10/15/95.
One of the finest guides written was produced by Charles Bendire for the Smithsonian Institution. Bendire's LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS catalogued the Smithsonian's considerable collection of birds and was printed in 1892. "One of oology?s most memorable stories is that of Major Charles Bendire, egg collector and Indian fighter. In 1872, while on patrol in central Arizona, he noticed through binoculars a zone-tailed hawk?s nest high in a tree. Leaving his troops to set up camp, he rode to the tree, tethered his horse, and climbed to the nest, keeping a wary eye open for Indians and concealing himself as much as possible. From the nest, he plucked one of the eggs. Caution escaped his mind as he marveled at this incredible addition to his growing egg collection. An Apache scout quickly spotted him and got off a snap shot with a carbine. As the bullet zipped harmlessly over the major?s head, he reacted instantaneously. Shoving the egg into his mouth for safekeeping, he hurried down the tree, jumped onto his horse, and galloped wildly back to camp with several Apaches in fervent pursuit. He managed to reach the camp, where a brief, pitched battle drove off the Apaches. Then the real problem began. As he rode headlong into camp, gasping and gagging, Bendire discovered that he couldn?t spit the egg out. It seems that as he had tried to avoid biting the egg, his jaws had tensed up and swelled. He simply could not open his mouth wide enough to remove the egg. Several men, under threat of court-martial, pried open his jaws and got the egg out intact. Although they did break one of his teeth, Bendire thought it a small price to pay for a perfect, uncracked egg of a zone-tailed hawk. Charles Bendire later became the first curator of oology at the Smithsonian Institution, where the storied egg survives to this day, along with about 130,000 others." (From fascinatingearth.org).
Very Good with no dust jackets. Volume One: Corners bumped and rubbed. Parts of leather on spine missing, affecting lettering. Rear board water-spotted. Evidence of water rippling to pages starting at plates. Tissue guards lightly stuck to plates. New marbled endpapers. Volume Two: Spine detached, solidly attached at rear. Parts of leather on spine missing, affecting lettering. Corned bumped and rubbed. New marbled endpapers.
These volumes weigh 14 pounds when packed properly for shipping, so customers outside the US should inquire about shipping charges before ordering, as they will be very expensive to ship.
$300.00
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