A sufficient sketch is given by Helyot, Histoire des ordres religieux (1718), vi.
Both in Italy and France he was engaged in collecting materials for his great work, which occupied him about twenty-five years, L'Histoire des ordres monastiques, religieux, et militaires, et des congregations seculieres, de l'un et de l'autre sexe, qui ont ete etablies jusqu'd present, published in 8 volumes in 1714-1721.
The lofty Fontaine des Trois Ordres commemorates the centennial of the French Revolution.
Sufficient information will be found in Helyot, Histoire des ordres religieux (1714), vol.
Still De Blainville made some advance in a right direction, as for instance by elevating the parrots' and the pigeons as " Ordres," equal in rank to that of the birds of prey and some others.