History of Singing Birds containing an exact description of their Habits and Customs and their manner of constructing their nests. Their times of incubation with the peculiar excellences of their several Songs, The method of rearing them in cages And the preparation and choice of their Food. Also the disorders they are subject to with the mode of treatment, Including the History and Management of Canary Birds by Count de Buffon

EDINBURGH: Sylvester Doig at the Royal Exchange A rare english translation of this work first published in France in 1778. There is no date on the title page but there is an inscription dated 1793. With 2 title pages, an advertisement, contents listing and instructions to the binder, and text with 24 copper engraved plates. There is a section on each bird and a plate usually illustrating male and female forms bound with it. Bound in full leather with a gilt crest on the front board. The binding requires repair with wear at joints, corners and edges - the front board is becoming detached. There is a small signature on the front paste-down endpaper which is not very clear - but may be a Mr Hay. Whoever this was, he has added notes in ink to the preliminaries and sometimes to the backs of plates. These contain detailed descriptions of the favourite foods of many of the birds - for example skylarks (a penchant for spiders - 'good for them particularly if they are not well'). The two title pages are detached but the remainder of the book is sound and complete. There is a little browning and spotting - but apart from the ink annotations - the book is very clean. A rare and interesting work.