In this fascinating adventure, a biologist's obsessive quest to uncover the mysteries of one of the world's most enigmatic birds builds into an unlikely tale of theft, wartime atrocities, insane millionaires, intrigue in the Middle East, and skinny dipping. - An avid audience: Bird, nature, and environmental enthusiasts will warmly embrace this book, which follows one of the world's foremost ornithologists as he tracks down the Labrador Duck, which became extinct in 1875--an elusive creature that is often mentioned in the same breath as the famed Dodo and the Great Auk. - Globetrotting adventure: When Dr. Glen Chilton began his hunt for surviving evidence of the Labrador Ducks, there were thought to be about fifty specimens scattered amongst the museums of europe, North America, and the middle east. After traveling the equivalent of more than three times around the world, Chilton was able to examine what amounted to fifty-five specimens in total--as well as suffer numerous hangovers, swim naked in a glacier-fed stream, narrowly avoid arrest in New York City, and dine with russian gangsters. His story is a magnificent blend of travel writing, science, detective work, and hilarious mishap. - The author is the authority: An internationally recognized ornithologist and world-renowned behavioral ecologist, Dr. Chilton's scholarly talks at international conferences are keenly anticipated both for their scientific content and their presentation style. And, of course, he is the world's leading authority on the extinct Labrador Duck.