Essai sur l'histoire naturelle du Chili
By: par M. l'abbé Molina; traduit de l'Italien, & enrichi de notes, par M. Gruvel, D.M.
Contributors: Gruvel, M.
Publisher: chez Neé de la Rochelle, libraire, rue du Hurepoix, près du pont Saint-Michel, no. 13.
Published: 1789
Place of publication: A Paris
Language: fre
Number of pages: 351
Subjects: Natural history; Mapuche language; Indian linguistics; Description and travel
Work titles: Saggio sulla storia naturale del Chili
Notes: Translation, by Gruvel, of: Saggio sulla storia naturale del Chili. Bologna, 1782.

Original work in Italian is an extended version of the natural history section of the author's: Compendio della storia geografica, naturale e civile del regno del Chile. Bologna, 1776 (published anonymously)

Edited by Gruvel (footnotes signed: G.)

Text in French; diagnoses of taxa of animals, plants and minerals in Latin.

Signatures: a A-Y (a1 verso blank). Leaf Y1 unsigned, leaves Y2-Y3 signed as: "Y-Yii"

Text divided into four books: "Livre premier. Situation, météores, & température du Chili." (p. [1]-26); "Livre II. Eaux, terres, pierres, sels, bitumes & métaux." (p. 27-92); "Livre troisieme. Herbes, arbustes & arbres du Chili." (p. 93-168); "Livre IV. Vers, insectes, reptiles, poissons, oiseaux, & quadrupedes du Chili." (p. 169-351)

Book IV includes two catalogues: "Tableau méthodique des nouvelles especes décrites dans cet ouvrage, d'après le systême de Linné." (p. 319-339); "Vocabulaire chilien, relativement à l'histoire naturelle." (p. 340-351)

Includes bibliographical references.

Brown, J.C. Cat., 1493-1800, 3: 3085.

Backer-Sommervogel 5: col. 1166 (no. 4)

Streit, R.  Bib. missionum, 3: 1121.

Quérard 6: p. 185.

Stafleu & Cowan 6206.

John Carter Brown Library copy 1 (07355) has many groups of leaves unopened.

John Carter Brown Library copy 2 (10722; 20 cm.) bound in contemporary quarter calf and paper boards.