PALLAS, Peter Simon.

Novae Species Quadrupedum e Glirium Ordine cum Illustrationibus Variis Complurium ex hoc Ordine Animalium. Erlangen, Wolfgang Walther, 1778-[1779]. 4to. With 39 engraved plates, 3 of which are folding. Contemporary boards.

      - (2), viii, 388 pp. BMC NH, p. 1505; Nissen, ZBI 3074; Wood, p. 511; DSB X, pp. 283-285. First edition of Pallas's monograph on rodents. Peter Simon Pallas (1741-1811) occupied himself with botany, zoology, geology, and geography, searching constantly for "causal interrelationships and hidden regularities of natural phenomena. He was one of the first to use anatomical characteristics in classifying animals. His research in comparative anatomy provided the foundations for animal taxonomy" (DSB ). His descriptions of rodents in the present volume are accompanied by attractive and accurate plates of animals and animal parts. Nissen (ZBI I, p. 154) qualifies Pallas's illustrations in general as "zoologisch bedeutsam." The figures on the plates are explained on pages 385-388.A highly desirable, clean and wide-margined copy.