Lacaze-Duthiers, [F. J.] H. de
Histoire des ascidies simples des côtes de France. Deuxième partie. Études des espèces.
Paris, [the author], 1877. 8vo (23.9 x 15.2 cm). 220 pp.; 14 partly hand-coloured engraved plates. In original green cloth with gilt title on the spine; black printed border and gilt vignette of the author's coat of arms on the front board.
This work is the first monograph on French tunicates. The plates show the often beautifully coloured species: of one species, the author remarks "cette espèce est superbe" (see p. 633). Originally published in the Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale, volume 6. The French anatomist and zoologist Félix Joseph Henri de Lacaze-Duthiers (1821-1901 or - according to Nissen ZBI, p. 238 - 1902) was the founder and editor of this scientific journal, and founder of the famous marine biological stations at Roscoff (Atlantic) and Banyuls sur Mer (Mediterranean). This work is titled "Deuxième partie", but a "Premier partie", perhaps intended as a general introduction, was never published. Most species treated are from one of these localities. This is an "offprint", most probably made at the request of the author, and with his coat of arms. Uncut. Internally a very good, clean copy. Nissen ZBI, 4558.