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Russia

The books are listed by publication date with the most recent at the top.

Europe

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Britain/Europe field guides

Asia

Asia

Birding Across the Border: Where to Watch Birds in Varanger and the Murmansk Region

Editor: Bjřrn Frantzen, Morten Günther, Eugene Potorochin, Yuliya Solntseva

2016

An English language guide to 49 birding locations in Norway and Russia.

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Japan and North-east Asia

Tadao Shimba

2016

Japanese with English bird names.

"Based on Christopher Helm's A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Japan and North-East Asia published in 2007, the second Japanese edition of this field guide shows 673 species of wild birds found in Japan and Northeast Asia. In comparison to the first edition many new photos have been included. 673 species of wild birds, including 60 species that have been newly recorded in Japan. Covers Japan and the Korean Peninsula, Northeastern China, and Far East Russia."

Birds of the Curonian Spit

Krister Castrén

"This is the first English language birding guide to this area, and fills a gap by providing valuable information on numbers of migrants, breeding species, abundance and migration times of the birds met on the Spit. It is not only a book of records, but serves as a birder's or nature lover's guide to the Spit as well, containing many photographs taken in the area. Also included are a number of maps to help find locations of valuable bird areas or places from which to observe migrating birds. Suggestions are given for the best birding excursions for each season, with statistics against which birders may compare and evaluate their own records. A full list of bird species recorded up to the year 2011 with information about their appearance and status, numbers, and top migrations is included."

A Complete Identification Book of the Birds in the European Part of Russia

Editor: M.V. Kalyakin

Fiton XXI

2012

Lanuage: Russian with English abstract

"This book is the most comprehensive and colourful guide to the birds of European Russia. It contains photographs illustrating every species described, including all of the major plumages depending on season and age. The book covers 483 nesting, wintering and migrating species which amounts to more than half of all bird species found in Russia. Textboxes for every given species describes its plumage, vocalization and biological features, such as migration and nesting dates, reproduction, and feeding habits, as well as highlights the species' distinction from similar ones. Distribution maps for every species of the European Russia are included."

Atlas of Duck Populations in Eastern Europe

Janis Viksne, Saulius Švažas, Alexandre Czajkowski, Mara Janaus, Alexander Mischenko, Alexander Kozulin, Andres Kuresoo, Valentin Serebryakov

2011

"The Atlas of Duck Populations in Eastern Europe is a synthesis of recent knowledge on 11 duck species of Eastern Europe, in six Eastern European countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, European Russia, Belarus and Ukraine)... Eurasian Widgeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup.

The Atlas of Duck Populations in Eastern Europe documents the distribution range, the numbers and population trends, migration routes, the current conservation status of each species, and identifies the factors which regulate or threaten their populations. It also shows the recent changes in the distribution, behavior and survival strategy of these birds affected by climate change: the shift to the northeast of the breeding range, shorter migration routes, introduction of new routes and stopover sites, emergence of a continental wintering and development since the 1980s/1990s to partially migratory and sedentary populations right into the heart of major urban areas."

Birds of East Asia: China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Russia

Mark Brazil

2009

"With 234 superb color plates, and more than 950 color maps, Birds of East Asia makes it easy to identify all of the region's species. The first single-volume field guide for eastern Asia, the book covers major islands including Japan and Taiwan, as well as the Asian continent from Kamchatka to the Korean Peninsula. The region's major bird families are presented and distinct species are noted, from the well-known Steller's Sea Eagle - the world's largest eagle - to those less familiar to Western ornithologists, such as the Scaly-sided Merganser, Oriental Stork, and Mugimaki Flycatcher. The maps provide useful information about the seasonal migratory patterns of all bird varieties."

Monitoring and breeding ecology of arctic birds at Medusa Bay, Taimyr, Russia 2005

H. Van Kleef, R. Smeets, D. Osipov, K. Tretjakov, T. Kirikova, D. Nowak, A. Nowak & J. Gregersen

Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research

2009

"In 2005 an expedition of the Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research (WIWO) visited the Medusa Bay area, near Dikson on the Taimyr peninsula, in northern Siberia (Russia), at 73o23'N 80o32'E . The main aim of the expedition was to apply a standardized breeding bird monitoring method intended to reveal temporal changes in breeding bird numbers at Medusa Bay. This will improve our knowledge of population dynamics of waders and other bird species. The main goal of the monitoring programme is to focus on numbers of all bird species present within fixed plots. Furthermore some important demographic variables, being nest success, environmental variables (snow cover, temperature) and biotic variables (lemming and Arctic fox abundance, arthropod availability) are monitored to be able to explain changes in breeding bird numbers and breeding success. Apart from carrying out the monitoring scheme, research activities also included research on breeding ecology of Brent Geese in relation to Snowy Owls, which was a continuation of the research performed in 1999."

Birds of East Asia: China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Russia

Mark Brazil

2008

"This is the first single volume guide ever devoted to the eastern Asian avifauna. The eastern Asian region, centring especially on the major islands off the continental coast (including Japan and Taiwan) and the immediately adjacent areas of the Asian continent from Kamchatka in the north and including the Korean Peninsula are an important centre of endemism. Birds endemic to this region include representatives of many of the major families, from the world's largest eagle - Steller's Sea Eagle - to the tiny Formosan Firecrest. The east Asian continental coast and the offshore islands also form one of the world's major international bird migration routes, especially for waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, while the east Asian continental mainland itself is home to a wide range of species little known to western ornithologists such as Scaly-sided Merganser, Oriental Stork and Mugimaki Flycatcher. The guide features the most up-to-date text available, which, in conjunction with extensive colour plates throughout, facilitates the field identification of all of the species known from the region. Colour distribution maps enhance the text by providing a visual analysis of the summer, winter and migratory ranges of all species."

Bustard Studies No. 6: Great Bustards in Russia and Ukraine

Journal of the ICBP Bustard Group

Forderverein Grosstrappenschutz

2007

"Results of a study undertaken by the German Society for the Protection of Great Bustard in collaboration with Russian biologists from the Saratov region, in order to design effective conservation measures."

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Japan and North-east Asia

Tadao Shimba

2007

"Despite its rich avifauna and popularity with tourists, Japan has long been lacking a good English-language field guide. This new photographic guide will be the first book to cover the Japanese avifauna in English for over 25 years, and the first photoguide to the country in English. It will also include the birds of neighbouring mainland regions of eastern Asia, namely Korea, NE China and eastern Siberia. Over 520 species are illustrated with hundreds of stunning colour photographs. The text succinctly describes the key identification features and each species has a distribution map. This guide will be an essential companion for anyone visiting Japan or eastern Asia."

Arctic Flight: Adventures Amongst Northern Birds

James McCallum

2007

"Arctic Flight is a collection of sketches, paintings and observations made in Finland, Norway, Siberia and Alaska. The artwork and written accounts were all made outdoors from life. This book is a unique visual and written account of travels to experience the wildlife of northern and arctic regions in its many moods and atmospheres."

Atlas: Birds of Moscow City and the Moscow Region

M.V. Kalyakin, O.V. Voltzit

2006

Language: Russian and English

"The Atlas is a complete collection of distribution maps of all 273 breeding, migrant, nomadic and wintering bird species recorded in Moscow City and the Moscow Region during 1999–2004. The maps are accompanied by brief texts characterising their status in the region, graphs illustrating their seasonal presence and about 900 photos of all 273 recorded bird species. The book summarises the data collected by 401 birdwatchers and professional ornithologists during six years of fieldwork for the programme Birds of Moscow and the Moscow Region or received from several research and conservation projects, and information derived from the literature published after 1999. The Atlas shows the recent distribution of birds in Moscow City and the Moscow Region. These data can be used for educational, conservational and scientific purposes. The book is adressed to ornithologists, birdwatchers, conservationists, urban ecologists and all lovers of nature."

An Atlas of Movements of Southwest Siberian Waterbirds

J. Veen, A.K. Yurlov, S.N. Delany, A.J. Mihantiev, M.A. Selivanova & G.C. Boere

2005

"This Atlas of Movements of Southwest Siberian Waterbirds is a contribution to the knowledge of the migratory movements of Siberian waterbirds, with special reference to the Central Asian Flyway Action Plan, which was adopted in New Delhi in 2005, and which aims at a better protection of Central Asian waterbirds, and their habitats, based on sound ecological knowledge. This atlas is based on an analysis of thousands of ringing recoveries of waterbirds migrating between Southwest Siberia and other parts of the world. In autumn, the majority of these birds fly in a south to south-westerly direction and spend the winter on the Indian sub-continent, in Southwest Asia, the Caspian Sea, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea basins and in Africa. Southwest Siberia appears to be of great importance as a breeding, moulting and staging area for a variety of duck species. In addition, the area also hosts many breeding and migrating waders, gulls and terns."

Lapland: A Natural History

Derek Ratcliffe

2005

"Looks at the flora and fauna of Lapland, that area of northern Europe and northwestern Russia which lies within the Arctic circle. It examines the ecosystems and species by habitat type, with one chapter dealing with freshwater habitats, another with open tundra and so on. Conservation issues affecting it today are also discussed."

Boreal Forest of Canada and Russia

W.O. Pruitt and L.M. Baskin

2004

Bilingual parallel text: Russian and English

"Our planet's green halo is the circumpolar taiga or boreal forest. This forest is remarkably uniform in its climate, vegetation types and animal types. All life forms here have evolved adaptations to the long, cold and snowy winters, the short, hot and dry summers and the swiftly-changing seasons. The same genera and families of birds and mammals occur in this forest type in Eurasia and North America. Humans have invaded and exploited these northern coniferous forests differently in Canada and Russia. Although the history of human use has been different between the two countries the end results in both frequently have been catastrophic for vegetation, animals and some human groups. Such similarities and differences have been studied by biologists, human ecologists, anthropologists and other scientists at two research and teaching field stations in the taiga."

Breeding birds of Cape Wastochnia, Pyasina Delta, Taimyr, Russia, in 1994

Holmer Vonk

Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research

2003

"As expected from observations made in earlier years, the breeding season of 1994 was a peak year in lemming densities. Lemmings normally show a three-year cycle in abundance. With the last peak year at Cape Wastochnia being 1991, this pattern also occurred in the study area. Arctic Fox was also present with one occupied burrow at the eastern border of the study plot. As a result of the lemming densities, the typical lemming predators Snowy Owl, Pomarine Skua and Rough-legged Buzzard were breeding in the area. The breeding of some species, at least White-fronted Goose, also seems restricted to lemming peak years in the area. Most non-predatory species also occurred in 1993. Breeding densities were comparable in both years. The density of lemmings thus not seems to influence the number of birds which start breeding. However, in this differences between methods and observers should be taken into account. Densities found in 1994 should be considered as the absolute minimum of the numbers actually present and might actually give some underestimation for the smaller wader species."

Monitoring and breeding ecology of arctic birds at Medusa bay, Taimyr, Russia, in 2000

Raymond H.G. Klaassen, Hans Schekkerman, Ingrid Tulp, Michael Berezin, Andrew G. Bublichenko, Julia N. Bublichenko, Sergei P. Kharinotov, Sofia Rosenfeld & Sergei Khomenko

Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research

2003

"In 2000 a WIWO expedition was organised to the remote Taimyr Peninsula, which is situated in the high north of Siberia Russia. Members of this expedition were Sergei Khomenko (Ukraine) and Raymond Klaassen (Netherlands). The expedition was organised in close co-operation with two workers of the Dutch institute 'Alterra' and 5 Russian researchers. We stayed at the convenient Willem Barenz Field station, which is situated 18 km south of Dikson in the Medusa Bay area. The field station was built with financial help from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries in 1994. From 1996 on WIWO expeditions were carried out to this area (Tulp et al, 1997; Khomenko et al, 1997; Felix & van Turnhout, 2000; Willems & van Kleef, 2000). Aims of this year expedition were continuing of the in 1998 developed standardised bird monitoring program (Van Turnhout et. al, in prep.) and study wader breeding ecology."

Important Transboundary Belarusian-Lithuanian And Lithuanian-Russian Wetlands

Saulius Švazas, Alexander Kozulin, Gennady Grishanov, Michail Maximenkov, Valerijus Rasomavicius, Liutauras Raudonikis, Vladimir Baichorov, Arkady Skuratovich, Linas Balciauskas, Eugenijus, Drobelis & Dmitry Grishanov

2003

Breeding Birds Of Medusa Bay, Taimyr, Russia. Methods For Biological Monitoring In The Arctic With Results Of 1998 And 1999

Frank Willems, Chris van Turnhout, Hein van Kleef & Rob Felix

Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research

2002

The Garganey in the Former USSR: A Compilation of the Life-history Information

S. Fokin and V. Kuzyakin

Wetlands International

2000

"This publication is important for that it addresses some key gaps in our knowledge of this species. It provides also interesting information on the relationship between man and this species in its vast and main breeding areas. It provides an important foundation on which further research can be based and provides some of the insight needed to ensure successful management and conservation of the species."

Wetlands in Russia: Volume 2, Important Peatlands

Editor: M.S. Botch

2000

"This volume provides information on 51 important peatland sites covering over eight million ha that meet the Ramsar Convention Criteria. This information has been compiled on the basis of the revised TELMA List (first published in 1979) and some recent inventory studies. The selected peatlands play a key part in regulating hydrological and climatic conditions over extensive areas, support rare and endangered species of plants and animals, and provide representative examples of mire types characteristic of the tundra and taiga biogeographical regions."

Wetlands in Russia: Volume 1

Editor: V.G. Krivenko

1999

"This book covers 35 of Russia's most valuable wetlands, providing a broad overview of their features, noteworthy flora and fauna, social and cultural values, land use, and detailing scientific research currently being undertaken."

Cranes Grus grus in NW-Russia, autumn 1996

T. Veerman & H. Wessels

Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research

1998

"In 1996 research was done in the northwestern part of European Russia (district Kargopol) into cranes. These birds use this area as halfway stage on their route from their nesting ground to their wintering place. In order to map this migratory route it was decided to catch a number of these birds and give them coloured rings. It was tried to lure them to a feeding field on which grain mixed with the anaesthetic alphacholoralose was scattered."

Breeding waders at Cape Sterlegova, northern Taimyr, in 1994

I. Tulp, H. Schekkerman, T. Piersma, J. Jukema, P. de Goeij & J. van de Kam

Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research

1998

"In the summer of 1994 a Dutch/Russian expedition was undertaken to Cape Sterlegova in northern Taimyr. The expedition period lasted from 10 June until 12 August. Our special interest concerned the energetics of breeding in the high arctic. We studied the cost of incubation (doubly-labelled water method) and nest incubation schedules (by means of radio-tracking) in Knots. After hatching, the energetic of growth in Knot chicks were studied. Other studies undertaken included: monitoring of breeding bird densities in a 12 km2 study area, recording breeding success of waders, recording seasonal abundance of arthropod fauna, trapping and ringing of adult waders."

Birds of North Siberia

A.V. Krechmar

Bilingual: Japanese / English

"This book published in 1996 in Japan represents specific outlines of over 100 species of birds, nesting in tundra, forest tundra and northern taiga over the territory from Taimyr to the northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. The outlines give information about ecology and distribution peculiar to the northern species, including maps of their nesting habitats and wintering. Major part of data on species outlines, as well as colored and black-and-white photos, belong to the author and were obtained during multiple expeditions."

Conservation of Black Sea Wetlands: A Review and Preliminary Action Plan

Editor: A. Wilson and M. Moser

1994

"Originating from a workshop held in Odessa, Ukraine in 1993, this review presents national reports from the six main countries bordering on the Black Sea - Bulgaria; Georgia; Romania; Russian Federation; Turkey; and Ukraine. Additional chapters discuss conserving existing wetlands; restoring degraded wetlands; conserving species; and implementing the action plan. It is available as either an English or Russian edition."

The Eagle Owl in Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine

Editor: V.I. Voronetskiy

1994

A collection of papers discussing the status, distribution and biology of the Eagle Owl. English language summaries are provided for each paper.

Pelicans in the Former USSR

Editor: A.J. Crivelli, V.G. Krivenko, V.G. Vinogradov

1994

"Presents data on the Palaearctic nesting populations of Great White and Dalmation Pelicans, with an emphasis on the importance of the former USSR to the species."

Birds of Russia

Algirdas Knystautas

Collins

1993

"Russia has the world's greatest lakes and inland seas, and rivers which flow for thousands of kilometres. All the world's climatic zones except for tropics are found between its northern and southern borders. There are magnificent and imposing mountain ranges, whose many peaks soar to the clouds, while in the east Kamchatka's volcanoes have earned it the name "Land of Fire". The fauna and flora are no less rich and varied, with about 100,000 plants, 140 species of reptiles, 30 amphibians, 1400 fishes and about 300 mammals. Some of the most wonderful creatures are the birds, of which about 800 species occur in Russia. Some of our familiar winter visitors, such as Beswick's swan, breed in Russia. This book takes the reader on a journey into Russia's natural world, showing, with the help of photographs, many of the country's birds."

The Birds of Central Siberia

Helena J. Rogacheva

"Based on field studies conducted from 1956 to 1991, this book details the distribution, occurrence and status of all known species of Central Siberia, a region extending from the southern Siberian mountains north to the arctic islands of the Kara and Laptev seas. This region lies on the Yenisey zoogeographical boundary, a feature which stretches some 4000 km from north to south. The author describes the importance of this feature, and proposes a new interpretation of this important boundary. There are also descriptions of the area's natural conditions, a history of ornithological research, and discussion of the problems of protection and rational use of birds in Central Siberia. The bulk of the book is devoted to the systematic guide, which gives details of the distribution, habitat, range, abundance and breeding of 664 species."

Bustard Studies No. 5

Journal of the ICBP Bustard Group

Birdlife International

1992

Bustards in Russia and neighboring countries.

Tetraonidae and Phasianidae of the USSR: Ecology and Morphology

M.A. Kuz'mina

1992

This book reviews the ecological and morphological adaptations of Tetraonidae and Phasianidae of the Soviet Union, based on data available in the literature and many years of research by the author. The distribution, habitat, behavior, feeding habits, and the adaptation of these birds to climatic conditions are discussed in the first part. The second part of the book elucidates the structure of the locomotory organs and locomotion. The final chapter examines the ecological groups of galliform birds and suggests measures for conserving and increasing the numbers of some species of this economically important group of birds.

Ecology of Buntings: the Study of the Genus Emberiza in Transbaikal

T.Z. Dorzheiv and B.O. Yumov

1991

The comparative ecology of buntings is analyzed with respect to the species' distribution, habitat preferences, feeding, nesting, population dynamics etc. The book focuses mainly on specific adaptations and ecological mechanims, allowing co-existence of different species.

The book is in Russian but has an English summary.

A Field Guide to Birds of Russia and Adjacent Territories

V.E. Flint, R.L. Boehme, Y.V. Kostin, A.A. Kuznetsov

Princeton University Press

1989

The Birds of Siberia, Volume 1: To The Pechora Valley

Henry Seebohm

1985

The Birds of Siberia, Volume 2: The Yenesei

Henry Seebohm

1985

The Coot in West Siberia

AI Koshelev

Language: Russian

1984

A treatise on the biology, ecology, distributiion, economic importance and conservation of the Common Coot (Fulica atra). Chapter headings: Conditions of the Coot occurrence; Material and method; Distribution and disposal; Intra-species and inter-species relations; Seasonal cycle of life; Feeding; Structure of species and separate populations; and Number, use and conservation one of the commonest and popular waterfowl in Siberia.

Travels Of A Naturalist In Northern Europe

J.A. Harvie-Brown

1905

Published in two volumes.

From the preface:

"In the following narratives of three visits paid to the northern parts of Europe, I have made no attempt to rewrite or clothe in new phraseology my original journals. Therefore, any claim they may have upon those of the public who may be disposed to read them is their simple journalistic form and continuity of events - just as they occurred; just as they appeared to me; and just as I wrote them down at the close of each day. At the times my companions and I visited these countries, they were considered as being amongst 'the remoter regions of the earth,' unless perhaps Norway be excepted; for even Wolley and other British collectors had not penetrated so far eastwards as the White Sea, nor collected steadily on the Delta of the Dvina."

• Norway, 1871
• Appendix - List of Birds Observed
• Archangel, 1872
• Introduction
• Narrative
• Appendix A - Full List of the Birds collected around Archangel in 1872
• Appendix B - Full List of Eggs Collected
• Appendix C - List of Birds Collected with young, birds, nests, eggs
• Appendix D - List of the Rarer Birds in the Museum at Archangel Petchora, 1875
• Part I - Journey to Ust Zylma
• Part II - Life and Bird Collecting at Ust Zylma
• Part III - Voyage down the Petchora, and Life at Alexievka
• Part IV - Investigations at the Mouth of the Petchora, and Return Home
• Appendix A - Ignati Piottuch's Eeturn Journey
• Appendix B - List of Birds' Eggs Collected on the great River Petchora and on the Tundras of Siberia
• Appendix C - Analysis of Eesults of Collectors' List of Birds obtained in Russia
• Appendix D - The Samoyedes
• Appendix E - Birds of Lower Petcbora

The Birds Of Siberia

Henry Seebohm

1901

From the introduction:

"The following pages contain the narrative of Mr. Seebohm's two Siberian Expeditions the first undertaken in 1875 in company with Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown of Dunipace to the valley of the Petchora; the other, more lengthy and arduous, to the Yenesei river in 1877, when, though without any fellow-naturalist to share his labours, he had the advantage of the companionship of Captain Wiggins, the well-known Siberian navigator. Under the respective titles of "Siberia in Europe" and "Siberia in Asia," the results of these two journeys were published in 1880 and 1882. Both works having passed out of print, it was arranged to combine them in one volume. Mr. Seebohm set about the task, and had nearly finished it when his death occurred. With regard to the present completion of it, it is only necessary to say that, though the author has in various places made emendations of his former text, the nomenclature and the ornithology generally are here given as he left them. Certain passages which were unnecessary to a combined edition, or which had been superseded by subsequent information, have been omitted. Limitation of space has also necessitated the omission of the lengthy footnotes, which chiefly referred to the geographical distribution of birds, but this omission, if not in its entirety, was at all events to a large extent contemplated by the author himself."

Beyond Petsora Eastward

Two Summer Voyages To Novaya Zemlya And The Islands Of Barent Sea

Henry J. Pearson

1 colour plate: H. Grönvold

Maps and numerous black and white photographs

R.H. Porter

1899

From the preface:

When discussing our plans for 1895, Novaya Zemlya struck us as a country containing much of interest in bird-life. Papers on the ornithology of these islands had already been published by Dr. K E. von Baer in 1837; by Mr. George Gillett (Ibis, 1870); by Dr. Th. von Heuglin (Ibis, 1872); by Von Pelzeln on Count Wilczek's expedition in 1872; and by Dr. Hjalmar Theel on the results of the Swedish expedition in 1875. The accounts also by Baron Nordenskiold, Admiral Markham, and others mentioned that Bewick's Swans and many rare birds nested there, the sight of which would well repay a voyage. There were, besides, questions unresolved by previous explorers which we felt a strong desire to investigate; and Novaya Zemlya was soon decided upon.

Siberia In Asia

Henry Seebohm

1882

From the preface:

"Siberia in Asia is a pendant to Siberia in Europe. It is a narrative of a longer and more adventurous journey on the other side of the Urals, undertaken two years afterwards, but with the same objects in view. In 1875 I had the advantage of enjoying the companionship of an ornithologist as enthusiastic as myself, but in 1877 I was obliged to do my bird work alone. It is possible, however, that the general reader may not regret the change, and may find the dash of commercial enterprise and Arctic exploration reflected from Captain Wiggins a pleasant relief from the monotony of the toujours oiseaux of my former volume. To some extent, however, 'Siberia in Asia' must be a repetition of 'Siberia in Europe.' Though the meridian of the Caspian is altered to the meridian of the Gulf of Bengal, the latitude remains the same, but I venture to hope that a previous glimpse of the forests and the tundra of the Petchora will have added to rather than have detracted from the interest of the reader in the forests and the tundra of the Yenesay .....

.... I have endeavoured to make the ornithological part of my book as interesting to the general reader as possible. As before, I have added particulars of the geographical distribution of the birds mentioned in the form of notes, but I have confined these to the birds which we did not find on the first journey, not deeming it necessary to repeat the notes of my former volume."

Siberia In Europe

Henry Seebohm

1880

From the preface:

"The following pages contain the narrative of a trip, which I made in the year 1875, to the lower valley of the Petchora, in North-East Russia, in company with my friend J. A. Harvie-Brown, Esq., of Dunipace, a naturalist well known in ornithological circles for excellent field-work in various parts of Scotland, in Archangel, and in Transylvania. I have endeavoured to portray the character of the people with whom we came in contact with as little political or religious bias as possible, and to give as vivid a picture as I was able of a country widely different from our own, and possessing a climate of an almost opposite character to that of England. Little or nothing of importance has been added since my return home. I have given the reader credit for wishing to know something more of the birds we met with than we learnt on our trip, and I have endeavoured to give him an opportunity of satisfying his curiosity by foot-notes, to which he may refer or not as he likes. In some cases I have been obliged to correct errors of identification which we occasionally made; and T Lave introduced a chapter on the migration of birds, but inasmuch as this was principally written upon the island of Heligoland, it can scarcely be looked upon as padding. Whatever merit the book may possess will doubtless be owing to the fact that it was for the most part written upon the spot. It is a faithful transcript of a stranger's first impressions of a part of Europe seldom or never visited by Englishmen, written at post stations whilst the horses were being changed, or in peasants' cottages, wrecked ships, or wherever our temporary quarters may have been. The accuracy which ornithological observations demand, made it imperatively necessary that what was seen should be at once recorded, and many a time eighteen or twenty hours' field-work have been followed by two or three hours' writing before we allowed ourselves rest. The general reader may perhaps complain that the book is too ornithological; but lie must remember that an enthusiasm of some sort is necessary to lead the traveller into scenes where no hotels exist, where unknown difficulties have to be met, and which are absolutely virgin ground to the tourist."