London, the author, ca. 1835. Folio (37.4 x 27.3 cm). Well preserved hand-painted engraving of a bird in its natural surroundings.

This is a lovely hand-coloured plate from the finest and most complete atlas of portraits of British avifauna ever published, viz., Illustrations of British Birds (London, Longman, 1835-1850). Drawn and printed for the author - the Dutch-born British ornithologist Henry Meyer - and finely coloured by his wife, Mary Anne, or one of their daughters. Captioned 'red grous', this bird is more commonly known as red grouse. This print is in very good condition. Some light spotting, mainly at top and bottom. No creases, dents or tears present.