BRISSON Mathurin-Jacques Ornithologie ou méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, espèces et leurs variétés. A laquelle on a joint une description exacte de chaque espèce.

Nissen, 145; Anker, 69; Ronsil, 391; Zimmer, I, 94.

First edition of the best ornithological manual of the 18th century describing 1336 species in Latin and French.

“Brisson did not use the binomial system and his systematical classification of the birds differed from that of Linnaeus, surpassing it and being less superficial. The description of the species are careful” (Anker).  

“One of the early systematic treatises on birds by a contemporary of Linné. Detailed descriptions are given in genera and species of a large number of birds. While the author is not consistently binominal and frequently uses a descriptive phrase in place of a specific name, many of his generic names are proposed in strict accordance with the modern canons of nomenclature” (Zimmer).

Very good copy, complete with its 261 plates, the 6 engraved frontispieces, and the supplement bound in at the end of the last volume.