Notes of a Provincial Wildfowler

Aksakov (1791-1859), one of 19th-century Russia's finest prose writers, known for his autobiographical trilogy, offers up literary, detailed descriptions of Russia's nature. In this companion to his popular Notes on Fishing, Aksakov offers description of bird behavior, habitats and life cycles with a heavy dose of Russian nostalgia mixed in. He knows his study is subjective and never claims this to be a definitive ornithological study: ""My book is no more and no less than the simple notes of a passionate hunter and observer."" His passion shines through in his vivid descriptions of birds, forests, water and landscapes that he complements with anecdotes from Russia's history and folklore. (One of the most interesting bits of folklore reveals how revered pigeons were.) But unless you're a birder or a historian, to whom the appeal of this book is obvious, it's difficult to comprehend Aksakov's traditional hunter philosophy. ""The more respect a hunter has for a particular species of bird, the harder he tries to kill it."" He relates killing as many as 10 tufted ducks with one shot and stealing eggs from a coot's nest while the parent chases after him screaming. There is a body count at the end of each section and, more often than not, a description of preparation and taste of the bird or its eggs. The oystercatcher's fat turns bright orange when roasted, swan is so tough it's unchewable and teal duck eggs are the tastiest. At the beginning, Aksakov can seem cruel but then he tries to heal an injured bird or decides not to kill when he has opportunity, and in these actions, one sees his true reverence. (Aug.)