Indian pigeons and doves

London: Witherby & Co, 1913. SECOND EDITION. With chromolithographed frontispiece and 26 colored plates after Grönvold and Lodge. Contemporary half morocco over cloth boards, gilt lettering on spine, some wear to hinges and corners, otherwise a very clean copy from the libraries of James M. Dolan (stamp on title page), James M. Dolan Jr., (blind stamp on title page), and bookplate of the Van Oosten Foundation Ornithological Library. First edition of this fascinating work on Indian ornithology, intended for the most part as a reference guide for sportsmen. Baker saw “a gap in the records of our Avifauna which badly needs filling.” The work is an in-depth insight into pigeon and doves of the region, offering a detailed description of the genera and species, synonymy and vernacular names, and a full description of male, female and young of each, as well as their distribution, genera, habits, etc.

Baker (1864-1944), was one of the most eminent exponents Indian ornithology. After being educated at Trinity College he entered the Indian Police Force in 1883, rising to the rank of Inspector-General. He spent most of his service in Assam, which provided him with the great opportunity of observing the wild life (of interest, he lost an arm while hunting panthers there). He collected birds and wrote not only about ducks, but game birds and fauna of the area.