Eaton, Elon Howard. Birds of New York (Part I & II) 2 volume set (New York State Museum Memoir 12). Albany: University of the State of New York, 1910-1914. Second Edition. [8907]
Two large volumes in green cloth, bright gilt titles to spines, light fraying at the ends and corners, 11 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches. Clean texts, gorgeous color plates, both bindings tight. Reference room labels inside each volume; no other library matter. Details below. Very good. Hardcover.
This monumental work treats of 411 species of birds which had been known as occurring in New York State. The are grouped as Permanent Residents, Summer Residents, Transients, Winter Visitants, Summer Visitants, and Accidental Visitants. There are charts of sightings, how frequent, and in which counties. The illustrations were produced by the artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Fuertes also produced bird plates for the Forest, Fish, and Game Commission Reports for New York State.
This Second Edition carries the same imprint and date as the first, but was printed later on different paper.
Vol. I. - Introductory Chapters; Water Birds and Game Birds. 501 pp. of text, hundreds of additional pages of charts, 42 full-color plates by Fuertes with tissue guards.
Vol. II. - General Chapters; Land Birds. "For Reference" label inside both covers. 719 clean pp. of text, 106 color plates by Fuertes, Index to the set. Faint ring mark on the front cover.
The set was commissioned in 1904 by John Mason Clark, the director of the New York State Museum at the time. "Clark asked a Rochester biology teacher, Elon Howard Eaton (1866-1934) to write Birds of New York. Eaton was a lifelong student of natural history, and his 1901 paper on birds of Western New York had recently received statewide attention. From 1908 until his death, in 1934, Eaton taught at Hobart College, where he established the Department of Biology.
"For Birds of New York, Eaton compiled extensive original research, including distribution maps, migration surveys and detailed observations of birds' nests, eggs, songs and behaviors.
"Eaton enlisted Ithaca artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874-1927) to paint images for the book. Known for depicting birds in life-like poses and natural settings, Fuertes would study birds in their natural habitat before painting them; he also collected thousands of specimens for reference. Considered one of the foremost science artists of his day, Fuertes created illustrations for over 60 books and hundreds of magazine articles. He also lectured in ornithology at Cornell University.
"The collaboration between Eaton and Fuertes produced a two-volume work that, at the time, was widely acclaimed for its combination of scientific scholarship and beautiful artwork; 100 years later, is still of value to ornithologists.
"Birds of New York is also credited with strengthening New Yorkers' interest in studying and protecting birds, and spurring the formation of local birding clubs and bird sanctuaries throughout the state." - New York State Library online.