A monograph of the coraciidæ, or the family of the rollers.

Scarce privately printed ornithological work, illustrated by J.G. Keulemans.

Farnborough, Kent : published by the author at Topclyffe Grange, 1893. Printed in an edition of 250 copies. Folio, full crushed morocco by Bayntun-Riviere, spine in compartments, lettered in gilt; bookplate for Nowell Peach to front pastedown, marbled endpapers, title page cut and remargined along the right border; pp xx, 111; 27 fine hand-coloured lithographed plates by Keulemans (two with light foxing, else clean), pp. 91-92 with small section of blank paper replaced, one gathering starting to work loose, overall a very good copy.

The Coraciidae, or roller family, was first classified by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1815. Its habitat is in the warmer parts of the Old World, mainly Africa, where it is believed to have originated. The family derives its name from the birds’ acrobatics during courtship or territorial flights. It is related to the eight other families in the order Coraciiformes, which also includes the motmots, bee-eaters and three families of kingfishers.

Nissen IVB, 270