Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada (Comstock Classic Handbooks Vol. One)

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST WORK IN THIS FIELD!
Review: If you want all the details of habitat, general areas and specific locations of occurence, scientific nomenclature and classification, numbers of specimens actually found AND the time of day or night when found; in short, a thoroughness of American snakes that is unsurpassed, this book has been outdone by none.

The photographs are documentary (lab like) in style; this is not your high color coffee table- like photo work. But they are clear and produced for the positive identification of species.

This book came out many years ago. The technical information is still terrific. But read closely in places, old Americana is here. Listen for the desert winds, crackling cinders in the campfire, the lurching old '49 car, the sighing from the abandoned mine that gave all she had to give. There are interesting "field" stories scattered, albeit sparsely, but scattered through the books (two volumes).

Without a doubt, the absolute classic in its field. The husband and wife team has never been surpassed.