Backstrip missing half, remaining half nearly detached. Half title loose. Containing the Families Coraciae (contin.) and Halcyones by R. Bowdler Sharpe and Bucerotes and Trogones by R Ogilvie Grant. Seventeen hand-colored lithographs by J. Keulemans. The complete work published in 27 volumes (1874-1898) provided a detailed description of every bird with synonomy and distribution. Each volume included a section of color plates. 'Unquestionably the most important work on systematic ornithology that has ever been published.' -Zimmer.