Our rare first edition volumes of The Domestic Habits of Birds (1831), The Architecture of Birds, (1833) and The Faculties of Birds (1835) were written by Scottish naturalist James Rennie (1787-1867) and published by Charles Knight of London. The works were issued as part of the Library of Entertaining Knowledge under the supervision of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Rennie, who graduated from Glasgow University in 1815, was a product of the Scottish Renaissance and shared the Victorian Era’s fascination with the natural world. He was a well-respected scientist, academic and author and a professor of natural history and zoology at Kings College before emigrating to Australia to teach in 1840. Our well observed works on ornithology, like Rennie’s other studies of insects and botany, are detailed, copiously illustrated, practical and charming. Condition: Custom re-bound in leather slight bumping, Ex-libri, minor foxing and expected fading, otherwise good. Dimensions: 4.5" x 6.5" x 1.25".