The Snakes of Europe

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This ebook addresses the absence of a comprehensive work on the reptiles of Europe, specifically focusing on snakes. It provides a concise account of their characteristics, distribution, and life histories. The author has included illustrations from Professor Sordelli, who contributed beautiful figures from his collaboration with the late Professor Jan, enhancing the accuracy of the descriptions. Additional drawings by Mr. J. Green are also featured. Permissions to reproduce figures from previous publications have been graciously granted by the Trustees of the British Museum, the India Office, and the Zoological Society. To enhance its utility, the book begins with an introduction summarizing general knowledge about snakes. The author intentionally avoids overwhelming readers with bibliographical references and synonymic lists, prioritizing conciseness. When compiling information, only the most reliable sources have been utilized. Species descriptions are based on the British Museum's extensive collection, which has grown since the 1893-1896 Catalogue of Snakes. Access to Monsieur F. Lataste’s private collection and Dr. R. Gestro’s collection of Italian snakes in the Genoa Museum has further enriched the content. Additionally, Dr. L. W. Sambon has contributed a chapter on parasites at the author's request.