This volume provides an up-to-date guide to the identification, range, habitat, and status of snakes found within eastern and central North America, from west Texas, to western Manitoba, to the eastern seaboard. Species accounts are grouped by family (Blind Snakes, File Snakes, Boas and Pythons, Colubrid Snakes, and two families of venomous snakes) and illustrated with 251 color photos showing species, subspecies and most natural intergrades and color phases. The descriptive text combines details of appearance, naturally occurring color morphs, behavior, range/habitat, prey, and look-alikes with the authors' personal field observations. Enhancing the text are 98 distribution maps. For ease of use, photos, range maps, and descriptive text are presented on the same page. Introductory chapters explain snake taxonomy and habitats, and they survey the legal and safety issues that should govern any attempts to handle these animals. For the general reader curious about the identity of a backyard visitor, the resource manager or naturalist seeking an engaging and informative handbook, or the herpetologist seeking an authoritative single volume devoted only to snakes, the Bartletts' "Guide and Reference" provides a handy, detailed, readable, and richly illustrated guide.