Snakes and Their Ways is a reprint of the classic 1937 edition by C.H. Curran and Carl Kauffeld. Presented in narrative format, the book deals with the appearance, habitats, and habits of snakes. Each chapter presents both fact and fiction, dispelling many of the misconceptions of folklore, religion, and mythology. In a perspective novel for its time, the authors recognize the ecological (and economic) importance of snakes. The book
contains 62 illustrations. Chapters on snake stories and snakes in history and religion make this a must for the shelves of anyone interested in herpetology.
"Today our ideas concerning snakes are undergoing a marked change from those of a few decades ago when every snake was killed, if at all possible, upon sight and there was no differentiation between those that were harmless and the poisonous ones. The study of the habits of snakes and the realization of their
immense value in the destruction of rodents and other injurious animals is responsible for the change that has taken place. This realization has also led to the rising popularity of the study of snakes by a vast army of nature lovers, many of whom keep them as pets in their homes.…May we express the hope that it will bring to the reader a better understanding of a group of animals that have a definite place in the world and which play an important part in maintaining the 'balance of nature.'
" -- Introduction, 1937 | |
