A recently discovered seventeenth century French encyclopaedia of ornithology

Abstract

We describe the contents of an unpublished seventeenth century French encyclopaedia of ornithology by Jean-Baptiste Faultrier dated 1660, located in the library of The Earl of Derby at Knowsley Hall, England. The manuscript appears to have escaped the attention of ornithologists and historians and as a result has not previously been evaluated in terms of its contribution to the history of ornithology. The manuscript is based closely on Belon's (1555) encyclopaedia but contains descriptions of many more species or forms. A full evaluation of the ornithological significance of Faultrier's manuscript is needed.