"Among modern books about British birds The Handbook of British Birds, published by Witherby, stands supreme, being at once the most authoritative and the most detailed guide available. Its one drawback is that its five volumes are too unwieldy to carry about and consequently more suited to the library than the field. The publishers have overcome this disadvantage by issuing, at 45s., The Popular Handbook of British Birds, edited by P. A. D. Hollom, which, besides bringing the Handbook up to date, makes available the gist of its information on the identification, haunts, habits and distribution of the birds of these islands in one volume. . . .
"To anyone wishing to acquire a thorough knowledge of the birds of these islands based on sure foundations The Popular Handbook of British Birds is, in default of its five-volume predecessor, well-nigh indispensable."
From COUNTRY LIFE LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED IN COLOUR