For years Albert Hazen Wright and Anna Allen Wright traveled extensively, attempting to observe every species of snake in its natural surroundings and collecting data and live specimens. Their exhaustive research resulted in a famous two-volume source book, first published in 1957. Abundantly and painstakingly illustrated by the authors, this personalized natural history organizes for ready reference a wealth of information on American and Canadian snakes. Jonathan A. Campbell, a leading expert on snakes, supplies an informative new foreword. Accounts of more than three hundred species and subspecies - accompanied by photographs, drawings, distribution maps, and keys - form the main part of the work. In the introductory section the Wrights cover names of snakes, range, size, longevity, distinctive characteristics, color, habitat, period of activity, breeding, ecdysis, food, venom and bite, enemies, and authorities. Generous excerpts from the authors' field journals give the reader a vivid feeling of some of the satisfactions and conclusions of their search. Albert Hazen Wright was Professor of Zoology, Emeritus, at Cornell University. Anna Allen Wright was a recognized authority on the ecology and natural history of amphibians and reptiles.

Across the two volumes of Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada are accounts of more than three hundred species and subspecies, accompanied by photographs, drawings, and distribution maps.

"We have placed particular emphasis on life history, habits, behavior, and ecology. Description has been restricted to what is necessary for identification of specimens." Preface.