RÉAUMUR, (RENÉ-ANTOINE FERCHAULT DE). - FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THE AMBULACRAL FEET.

Observations sur le Mouvement progressif de quelques Coquillages de Mer, sur celuy des Herrisons de Mer, & sur celuy d'une espece d'Etoile.

(Paris, L'Imprimerie Royale, 1714). 4to. Without wrappers. Extracted from "Mémoires de l'Academie des Sciences. Année 1712". Pp. 115-147 and 3 large folded engraved plates with many figs.

First appearance of a classic paper in animal physiology in which Réaumur investigates the means by which mollusks, starfish, and various other invertebrates move about. He was the first to describe ambulacral feet.

"Réaumur was among the greatest naturalists of his or any age. In the breadth and range of his researches, in the patient detail of his observations, and in the brilliant ingenuity of his experiments, it would be difficult to name his equal. Thomas Henry Huxley has compared his favourably with Darwin."(DSB).

Order-nr.: 44514