Roberts Birds of South Africa by G. R. McLachlan & R. Liversidge

Roberts Birds of South Africa (Third Edition Standard Ornithology of South Africa)

The Classic Illustrated Field Guide and Handbook to the Birds of Southern Africa, in Its Revised Third Edition

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Roberts Birds of South Africa
• Authors: G. R. McLachlan & R. Liversidge
• Publisher: The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund; distributed by The Central News Agency Ltd.
• Publication Date: 1972
• ISBN-10: 0620005750
• Edition Details: Third Edition, Third Impression. Revised by G. R. McLachlan and R. Liversidge.
• Binding: Publisher's red cloth hardcover with leatherette-type grain, gilt lettering to the front board and spine.
• Physical Format: Thick, large octavo reference volume with colour plates and line drawings.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Good (G)
• Exterior / Boards: The red boards are solid and square, with the gilt lettering to the spine remaining clear and bright. There is slight scuffing and a few fine scratches to the front and back boards, and a small pen-like mark across the letter B of BIRDS on the front board. The spine and corners appear sound.
• Interior: The text block and fore-edge have toned to a yellow-brown, as expected with age. The title page and foreword are slightly toned, with some marks near the right edge. The text is clean on the pages examined and the binding is tight. The colour plates and line drawings accompany the descriptive text.
• The Dust Jacket: Not Present

Synopsis & Historical Value

Roberts Birds of South Africa descends from Austin Roberts' celebrated 1940 work, The Birds of South Africa, the book for which the zoologist became best known. This third edition was revised by G. R. McLachlan and R. Liversidge, and it carries an introduction by J. C. Smuts.

It is a comprehensive field guide and handbook to the birds of southern Africa. Entries cover description, distribution, habits, voice and breeding notes, with colour plates and line drawings to aid identification, and names are given in both English and Afrikaans.

The Roberts series has long been a favourite among those interested in southern African birds, and booksellers regularly describe it as the standard ornithology of South Africa. This third edition is a solid, useful copy for the working birder and for collectors of Africana natural history who want to follow the development of the series through its twentieth-century revisions.

Author Profile: G. R. McLachlan & R. Liversidge

Richard Liversidge (1926-2003) was an ornithologist and museum director. He co-authored the 1957 first revision of Roberts' work and three later revisions with Geoff McLachlan. His other books include A Rapid Bird Guide (1978) and The Birds Around Us (1990).

The original work was by Austin Roberts (1883-1948), the South African zoologist whose Birds of South Africa first appeared in 1940. He also wrote The Mammals of South Africa and edited Our South African Birds (1941).