Étienne Mulsant
Encyclopedia
Martial Étienne Mulsant was a French
entomologist and ornithologist.
Initially employed in commerce, Mulsant wrote writes Lettres à Julie sur l'entomologie, suivies d'une description méthodique de la plus grande partie des insectes de France, ornées de planches… (Letters to Julie on entomology, followed by a methodical description of the greatest part of the insects of France with, decorated plates...,) dedicated to his future wife, Julie Ronchivole.
In 1817, he became mayor of Saint-Jean-la-Bussière
, where his parents had property. In 1827 he became, following his father and grandfather, a Justice of the Peace. He settled in Lyon in 1830 and in 1839, he obtained a post of assistant librarian then, in 1843, a post of professor of natural history
in a college; a post he occupied until 1873.
In 1840, he published Histoire naturelle des Coléoptères de France, (Natural History of the Coleoptera of France) with various other entomologists : Antoine Casimir Marguerite, Eugene Foudras (1783–1859) and Claudius Rey
(1817–1895), his former pupil. He also had as pupils Francisque Guillebeau (1821–1897) and Valéry Mayet
(1839–1909).
With Jean Baptist Édouard Verreaux (1810–1868), he wrote Histoire naturelle des punaises de France, (Natural History of the bugs of France
) between 1865 to 1879. He also published school texts on zoology
and geology
. He was, for many years, President of la Société linnéenne de Lyon. He was also interested in birds, publishing several studies and taking part in the work of the commission on hunting small birds. In 1868, he wrote Lettres à Julie sur l'ornithologie (Letters to Julie on ornithology), a splendid work on the “oiseaux-mouches de 1874 à 1877”.
The hummingbird of Mulsant, Acestrura mulsanti, was named for him by Jules Bourcier
(1797–1873) in 1842. Mulsant and Bourcier were the authors of original descriptions of many new species
.
A monumental research work was published by Etienne Mulsant, titled "Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches, ou Colibris constituant la famille des Trochilïdes" (pub. 1874-77). It contained 4 text volumes, with a separate Atlas of colored plates in imperial quarto size (lg.4to) by Lyon-Geneve-Bale. The Atlas is illustrated with 120 exceptional, fine, large hand-colored lithograph plates of the known species of hummingbirds. Copies of this illustrated Atlas on hummingbirds are extremely rare.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
entomologist and ornithologist.
Initially employed in commerce, Mulsant wrote writes Lettres à Julie sur l'entomologie, suivies d'une description méthodique de la plus grande partie des insectes de France, ornées de planches… (Letters to Julie on entomology, followed by a methodical description of the greatest part of the insects of France with, decorated plates...,) dedicated to his future wife, Julie Ronchivole.
In 1817, he became mayor of Saint-Jean-la-Bussière
Saint-Jean-la-Bussière
Saint-Jean-la-Bussière is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-References:*...
, where his parents had property. In 1827 he became, following his father and grandfather, a Justice of the Peace. He settled in Lyon in 1830 and in 1839, he obtained a post of assistant librarian then, in 1843, a post of professor of natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
in a college; a post he occupied until 1873.
In 1840, he published Histoire naturelle des Coléoptères de France, (Natural History of the Coleoptera of France) with various other entomologists : Antoine Casimir Marguerite, Eugene Foudras (1783–1859) and Claudius Rey
Claudius Rey
Claudius Rey was a French entomologist .Rey’s family owned a prosperous printing works which went bankrupt in 1847. Fortunately, one of his uncles, the owner of a vineyard producing Morgon, offered him employment...
(1817–1895), his former pupil. He also had as pupils Francisque Guillebeau (1821–1897) and Valéry Mayet
Valéry Mayet
Valéry Mayet was a French entomologist. He was professor of zoology in Montpellier at the French National School of Agriculture, École nationale d'agriculture.-Publications:...
(1839–1909).
With Jean Baptist Édouard Verreaux (1810–1868), he wrote Histoire naturelle des punaises de France, (Natural History of the bugs of France
Hemiptera
Hemiptera is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs , comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others...
) between 1865 to 1879. He also published school texts on zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
and geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. He was, for many years, President of la Société linnéenne de Lyon. He was also interested in birds, publishing several studies and taking part in the work of the commission on hunting small birds. In 1868, he wrote Lettres à Julie sur l'ornithologie (Letters to Julie on ornithology), a splendid work on the “oiseaux-mouches de 1874 à 1877”.
The hummingbird of Mulsant, Acestrura mulsanti, was named for him by Jules Bourcier
Jules Bourcier
Jules Bourcier was a French naturalist.Bourcier was an expert on hummingbirds, and named a number of new species, either alone or with other ornithologists such as Adolphe Delattre and Martial Etienne Mulsant....
(1797–1873) in 1842. Mulsant and Bourcier were the authors of original descriptions of many new species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
.
A monumental research work was published by Etienne Mulsant, titled "Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches, ou Colibris constituant la famille des Trochilïdes" (pub. 1874-77). It contained 4 text volumes, with a separate Atlas of colored plates in imperial quarto size (lg.4to) by Lyon-Geneve-Bale. The Atlas is illustrated with 120 exceptional, fine, large hand-colored lithograph plates of the known species of hummingbirds. Copies of this illustrated Atlas on hummingbirds are extremely rare.