Henry J. Pearson - Three Summers Among The Birds of Russian Lapland - 1904

Title

Three Summers Among The Birds of Russian Lapland

Author

Henry J. Pearson

Year

1904

Publisher

R. H. Porter, London

Description

An evocative account of three ornithological expeditions to the remote coasts of Russian Lapland, undertaken in 1899, 1901, and 1903, Three Summers Among the Birds of Russian Lapland captures both the scientific rigour and the stark beauty of Arctic exploration at the turn of the twentieth century.

Henry J. Pearson - already known for Beyond Petsora Eastward - chronicles his journeys in the form of a daily narrative, lending immediacy and atmosphere to his observations. Considerable time was spent near the mouth of the Ukanskee River, with additional travels southward from Kola into the interior. Rather than presenting a purely systematic catalogue, Pearson records his experiences as they unfolded: the challenges of climate and terrain, the sparse settlements, and the striking contrasts of bird life against a landscape often still buried in snow well into June.

The work opens with a survey of previous ornithological exploration in the region and includes a substantial appendix listing 182 species observed across twelve stations. A further appendix offers practical advice on provisions, clothing, and equipment - an invaluable insight into the logistics of Arctic fieldwork at the time. The work also contains a history of Saint Triphon’s Monastery (founded c.1532), reflecting Pearson’s wider interest in the cultural and historical setting of the region.

Illustrated with 68 half-tone plates - approximately one-third devoted to ornithological subjects and the remainder depicting landscapes and the Lapp inhabitants - the book provides a vivid visual record to complement the text.

[2], xvi, 216 pp.

Condition

Rubbing and marking to the covers; heavy foxing throughout. Small tear to Plate 35 and very minor tears to the map.