RÉAUMUR, (RENÉ-ANTOINE FERCHAULT DE). - THE FORMATION OF SNAIL-SHELLS.

De la Formation et de L'Accroissement des Coqvilles des Animaux tant terrestres qu'aquatiques.

Paris, Jean Boudot, 1711. 4to. Without wrappers. Extracted from "Mémoires de l'Academie des Sciences. Année 1709". Pp. 364-400 and 2 large folded engraved plates. With engraved frontispiece and titlepage to Année 1709.

Reamur's first zoological work, a pioneer-work in which he, as the first, describes the formation of the shells, and in which he proved that they grow not like the other parts of the animal body, by expansion, but by the external addition of new parts : he also assigned the cause of the variety of colour, figure, and magnitude which distinguishes one shell from another.

"Réaumur’s first three communications to the Academy, on geometrical subjects, were presented in 1708 and 1709, and demonstrate a degree of mathematical sophistication worthy of a student of Varignon. Had Réaumur decided to remain a mathematician, he might well have been one of the greatest geometers of his age. In November 1709, however, he quite suddenly changed the course of his scientific career by reading a paper on the growth of animal shells. From then on, Réaumur’s work would be characterized by its extraordinary richness and diversity, but never again would he devote himself to the pure mathematical researches that had so fascinated him in his youth."(DSB).

"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).

Together with Reaumur's work is a notable paper by NICOLAS LEMERY "Conjectures et Reflexions sur la materie du Feu ou de la Lumiere", pp. 400-418.

Order-nr.: 45236