Contents: Vol. I: Introduction: 1. Purpose and scope. 2. Sources of information. 3. Co-ordination of data. 4. Editorial discretion. 5. Acknowledgments. I. Status: 1. Introduction. 2. Classification and nomenclature. 3. A list of rattlesnake species and subspecies. 4. Venomous snakes in the United States other than rattlesnakes. 5. Confusion regarding rattlesnakes. 6. Distinguishing venomous from harmless snakes. 7. The use of common names. II. Classification and identification: 1. Introduction. 2. A check list of the rattlesnakes--abbreviations used in the designation of type specimens. 3. Condensed alphabetical synonymy of the rattlesnakes. 4. Cross-index: vernacular (or common) to technical names. 5. Keys to the rattlesnakes. 6. Glossary. 7. Key to the rattlesnakes of Canada. 8. Key to the rattlesnakes of the United States East of the Mississippi river. 9. Key to the rattlesnakes of the United States West of the Mississippi river. 10. Key to the rattlesnakes of Mexico. 11. Key to the rattlesnakes of Baja (Lower) California, Mexico. 12. Key to the rattlesnakes of Central and South America. 13. Key to the genera of the Crotalidae based on external characters. 14. Key to the genera of the Crotalidae based on the adult skull. 15. Key to the species of the genera Crotalus ans Sistrurus based on the adult skull. 16. Tables of geographical distribution. 17. Tables of character variations.

III. Paleontology, zoogeography and phylogeny: 1. Paleontology. 2. Zoogeography and phylogeny. IV. Morphology: 1. Introduction. 2. Length. 3. Interspecific comparisons of length. 4. Maximum records. 5. Prehistoric rattlesnakes. 6. Body proportions. 7. Physiological summary. 8. Squamation. 9. Color and pattern. 10. Freaks and aberrants. V. The rattle: Historical. 1. Function and utilization. 2. Formation & structure. 3. Dimensional relationships. VI. Bodily functions: Introduction. 1. Growth and longevity. 2. Growth variables and dispersion. 3. Growth curves. 4. Weight. 5. Longevity. 6. Life persistence and frailty. 7. Experiments with decapitated rattlesnakes. 8. Bodily frailty of snakes. 9. Skin shedding. 10. Locomotion. 11. Senses. VII. Behavior: 1. Temporal activity and limitations. 2. Physiological temperature limitations. 3. Temporal variations in habits. 4. Climate and size. 5. Defensive and warning behavior. 6. Disposition and temperament. 7. Protective coloration and concealment. 8. Flight. 9. Defensive attacks. 10. Warning mechanisms. 11. Mythical defensive actions. 12. Distinguishing the resting from the striking coil. 13. The strike. 14. Climbing proclivities. 15. Reasons for tree-climbing. 16. Controversies concerning tree-climbing. 17. Characteristics of tree-climbing snakes. 18. Swimming ability. 19. How the rattles are held. 20. Actions in the water. 21. Reasons for swimming. 22. Aquatic activities of particular species. 23. Tales of swimming rattlesnakes. 24. Danger from swimming rattlesnakes. VIII. Populations and ecology: 1. Introduction: The importance of ecological factors. 2. Ranges. 3. Range limits. 4. Altitudinal range. 5. Habitat propensities. 6. Characteristic habitats of subspecies. 7. Island habitats. 8. Population factors. 9. Hibernating dens and their uses. 10. Aggregation and dispersal. IX. Food: 1. Introduction. 2. Kinds of food. 3. Species preferences. 4. Methods of securing prey. 5. Food requirements. 6. Feeding rattlesnakes in captivity. X. Reproduction: 1. Sexual characteristics. 2. Sexual activities. 3. Fertility. 4. Young rattlesnakes.

Vol. II: XI. Poison apparatus: 1. Introduction. 2. The fangs. 3. The venom duct and gland. 4. Venom. 5. Toxic indices. 6. Venom utilization. XII. The bite and its effects: 1. The nature of the bite. 2. Snake-bite statistics. 3. Variable factors in snake-bite cases. 4. Symptoms and aftereffects. 5. Summaries of symptoms. 6. Discussion of symptoms by categories. 7. Symptomatic case reports by species. 8. Causes of fatalities. 9. The symptoms of crotalus durissus bite. 10. Infection in rattlesnake bite. 11. Permanent aftereffects. 12. Effect of venom on the eyes and other organs. 13. The recurrence of snake-bite symptoms. 14. Susceptibility, resistance, and immunity to rattlesnake venom. 15. Immunity to snake bite in man. 16. Susceptibility of domestic animals. 17. Immunity in mammals that prey on snakes. 18. Susceptibility of amphibians. 19. Susceptibility of reptiles. 20. Susceptibility of miscellaneous animals. 21. Effect of rattlesnake venom on plants. XIII. Treatment and prevention of the bite: 1. The treatments proposed: their history and present status. 2. Antivenin. 3. Recommended treatment for rattlesnake bite. 4. The prevention of rattlesnake bite. 5. Human attitudes toward rattlesnakes. 6. Rattlesnakes and domestic animals. XIV. Control and utilization: 1. Introduction. 2. Economic advisability of control. 3. Methods of control. 4. Methods of catching rattlesnakes. 5. Commercial utilization of rattlesnakes and their by-products.

XV. Enemies of rattlesnakes: 1. Introduction. 2. Mammal enemies. 3. Bird enemies. 4. Reptile and amphibian enemies. 5. Miscellaneous enemies. 6. Parasites and diseases. XVI. Indians and rattlesnakes: 1. Introduction. 2. Religion, superstition, and folklore. 3. Protective measures. 4. Societies and ceremonies. 5. Snake-bite treatment. 6. Rattlesnake shamans and ceremonial cures. 7. Miscellaneous Indian-rattlesnake relationships. XVII. Post-Columbian knowledge of rattlesnakes: 1. Introduction. 2. History of published descriptions. 3. Etymology and semantics. 4. Insignia. 5. Place names and other uses. XVIII. Myths, folklore and tall stories: 1. Introduction. 2. Myths of venom and snake bite. 3. How rattlesnakes catch and eat their prey. 4. Folklore remedies derived from rattlesnakes. 5. Protective methods and devices. 6. Mythical creatures. 7. Queer actions and attributes. 8. Some traditional stories. 9. Miscellaneous beliefs and folklore. Bibliography. Supplemental bibliography. Index.

"This book is written to assemble and survey our present knowledge of rattlesnake habits and life histories. It is intended for reference rather than as a popular natural history of the rattlers, being, perhaps, too extensive and detailed for the latter purpose. But as it includes numbers of field observations from varied sources, it is hoped that it may aid in the correction of some of the dubious accounts long current in the popular natural histories: and, further, that it may encourage renewed investigation and observations respecting those phases of rattlesnake life now imperfectly understood or unknown. An effort has been made to keep the book from becoming overtechnical, with a view to making the individual sections into which it has been divided useful to any reader wishing further information on some particular aspect of rallesnake life. The index should prove adequate to permit this sporadic type of reference." (jacket)No. 9136

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