LIFE HISTORY NOTES ON EAST CAPE BIRD SPECIES 1940 -1990

Two volumes (complete).

An extraordinary set of books of intensely detailed observations of Eastern Cape birds. 

Blue imitation leather covered boards with gilt stamped titling to spine and front cover.

Volume 1 - signed by author. Field notes and observations 1037 pp plus 11 pp index.
Volume 2:Bird Biology 1352 pages.

Chapters covering:

• Birds and anthropods
• Bathing
• Birds in Bushclumpthornveld
• Bird distribution
• Bird drinking habits
• Bird feeding
• Bird movement
• Bird relations with Plant life
• Bird Predation
• Birds and weather

Both books have very light foxing to first few prelim pages. Top edges show some age spots which do not affect text block. Title on volume 2 slightly scuffed
Solid binding and clean pages throughout. A very good copy.
Rare, only one other available online.

Cuthbert John Skead, also known as "C.J. Skead", "Jack Skead" or "Skeado" (30 April 1912 – 28 May 2006), was a South African naturalist, ornithologist, historian and botanist.

He served as Director of the Kaffrarian (now Amathole) Museum in 1950 and for the next 22 years had a successful career as an ornithologist, based firstly at the Amathole Museum, and then at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute for African Ornithology (University of Cape Town) and then back at the Amathole Museum, before retiring to Grahamstown in 1972. During this period he published extensively, producing over 100 articles and books and considerably expanding our understanding of the birds of our region. His research interests, however, included mammals and invertebrates.

During his retirement, a period spanning 34 years, Jack focused on gathering and synthesizing information from historical records, firstly on the ecology and early distribution of mammals, birds and plants, and secondly on place names and their history, all with an emphasis on his beloved Eastern Cape.

During his illustrious career, Jack received a number of prestigious awards, and academic honours in the form of Honorary Doctorates from two Eastern Cape universities. Source:Wiki