Re-backed half-leather over marbled boards, corners rubbed and worn. Original wrappers bound in. P.L. Sclater's Monograph of the Jacamars and Puff-birds, published in seven parts between 1879-1882, covers two families of birds found only in the New World tropics, Galbulidae and Bucconidae. Jacamars are known for their colorful plumage, long bills, and slender profile. Puffbirds have a chunky appearance and most are shades of brown, black, and white. Members of both families are often found sitting quietly on an exposed perch from which they sally forth for flying insects. The fifty-five fine hand-colored lithographed plates after J.G. KEULEMANS are clean and bright. ‘Philip Sclater was one of the great nineteenth century ornithologists. He studied birds for over fifty years and was author or co-author of over 1300 titles, the majority concerning the avifauna of Central and South America.' - Mearns. Audubon to Xantus (1992)