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EXTREMELY RARE WORK ON PRE-LINNEAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

BARRČRE, Pierre.  Ornithologiae Specimen Novum, sive Series Avium in Ruscinone, Pyrenaeis Montibus, atque in Galliâ Aequinoctiali Observatarum, in Classes, genera & species, novâ methodo, digesta.
Perpignan, G.S. Le Comte, 1745. 4to. With 1 folding engraved plate. Contemporary calf, spine gilt.

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€ 4500

(2), 84, (12) pp. BMC NH, p. 102; Mengel, Ellis Collection 169; Ronsil 150; Trinity Coll. Hartford, Ornith. Books, p. 27; Wood, p. 221; NBG IV, cols 575-576; not in Anker, Nissen, IVB, Zimmer; Karlsruher Virt. Kat. 1 copy; OCLC WorldCat 7 copies, of which 4 in France. 
Extremely rare and interesting pre-Linnean attempt at classification of birds. The French naturalist Pierre Barrčre (1690-1755) spent three years in French Guyana before becoming professor of botany at the University of Perpignan. In the present work, Barrčr develops a system for the classification of birds based on the shape of their feet (flat, semiflat, split, semisplit, etc.) and their beaks. The accompanying illustration shows four different shapes of feet and twelve different shapes of beaks. The work is dedicated to De Buffon.
Excellent copy with wide margins and crisp paper; spine skillfully restored.