Foreign finches in captivity.

A  landmark work in avicultural literature with particular significance for Australian ornithology.  Complete with colour lithographed plates by Frederick William Frohawk, bound in quarter leather with raised bands, black title label and gilt lettering, new end papers. The boards covered with maroon marble paper. Rare.

This extensively illustrated volume provides detailed accounts of finch species from around the world, with coverage of Australian varieties including the Gouldian Finch and Zebra Finch. Butler combines scientific description with practical guidance on captive care and breeding. The chromolithographic plates offer valuable documentation of species appearance during the colonial period. Essential reading for understanding late Victorian interest in Australian avifauna and the historical trade in native birds to European collections. Reflects the era’s natural history pursuits and early avicultural practices.

Hull and London : Brumby and Clarke, 1899, second edition, octavo, VIII, 317 pages, 58 full page colour lithographed plates.

Contains descriptions and illustrations of five Australian finches:
p. 138-146 Australian Finch
p. 151-156 Australian Fire-tailed Finch
p. 164-183 Gouldian finch
p. 188-201 Zebra finch
p. 232-235 Chestnut-breasted Finch

This handsome and important work describes some eighty foreign cage finches, treating their distribution, plumage, song, and habits in captivity. While not arranged on strictly scientific lines, Butler’s text holds a particular value for its detailed record of avicultural practice at the time, and for shedding light on more than fifty species of finches commonly maintained in domestic aviaries.

Arthur Gardiner Butler (1844–1925), a prolific writer on bird-keeping, was associated with the British Museum as an authority on the taxonomy of birds, insects, and spiders. The plates are after Frederick William Frohawk (1861–1946), among the foremost British ornithological artists of his generation, whose output exceeded one thousand illustrations, notably including contributions to Aves Hawaiiensis and The Birds of Laysan, both commissioned by Lord Rothschild.