Contents: Preface. Systematic index. I. Introduction: 1. Structure. 2. Habits. 3. Zoo-geography. 4. Evolution and classification. 5. Preservation and examination of specimens. 6. Descriptive methods, etc. 7. Bibliography to introduction. II. Serpentes. Addendum. Note on the Hardwicke collection. Note on Russell’s Indian serpents. Bibliography. Alphabetical index.

"This volume, by far, remains the most complete work on the subject, covering some 400 species of snakes that are known to inhabit the area covered by this work – describing 389 species and 17 sub-species. The volume includes the whole area of Indo-China sub-region as well.

"This book is the only attempt at covering the entire collections of the three most important sources, viz., British Museum (Natural History), Indian Museum, Calcutta, and Bombay Natural History Society. Most of the references for the Indo-China region are drawn from Dr. R. Bourret’s collection in Paris; in addition to the author’s own collection of specimens.

"All the illustrations in the books are new, drawn under the direct supervision of the author and are included for the first time in this book." (jacket)