121 Jacques de Sève (active 1742–1788) – La Soulcie and Le Grivelin – Copperplate Engraving by Claude-Louis Desrais from Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux by Buffon (Late 18th Century)

This copperplate engraving depicts two small birds perched on tree branches: Fig. 1: La Soulcie (likely the Rock Bunting) and Fig. 2: Le Grivelin (possibly the Hawfinch), both rendered with fine plumage detail and lifelike poses. The scene is set against a dramatic sky, emphasizing the birds' natural elegance. Labeled Tome III, Pl. XXXI, this plate comes from the Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, a volume from Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon’s celebrated encyclopedic natural history. The plate was drawn by Jacques de Sève and engraved by Claude-Louis Desrais, both frequent collaborators on Buffon’s ornithological volumes.