"Birds of Burma" is a work that exists in several different
editions. The original edition was published in 1940, the second in 1953 and
the third in 1986. There also seem to be several different versions of the 1986
edition. The copy at "my" library is a Nimrod Press
edition not available for sale in North America.
"Birds of Burma" seems to be the work of a lifetime of B. E. Smythies, a former employee of the Burma Forest Service. The 32 color plates were illustrated by Commander A.M. Hughes, but do not include all species. The species presentations are of a field guide character, with sections on Identification, Voice, Habits and food, Status and Distribution. However, there are no range maps.
However, this gigantic book can hardly be used in the field. It's a coffee table volume and a typical collector's item (especially if you can get hold of the 1940 edition). Frankly, the whole work oozes old fashioned British colonialism, with Smythies and Hughes flashing all their imperial titles on the cover. No Little England nationalism here!
Today, Burma is independent and (I hope) publishes independent bird books... ;-)
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