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The species accounts begin with two lizards (the Gila Monster and the Mexican Beaded Lizard, genus Heloderma), the sole members of their family and the only venomous reptiles other than snakes in the world. Two families of snakes follow (Elapidae, including here the coral snakes and the sea snakes) and Viperidae (here represented by pitvipers) in 190 species accounts. Omitted are the few poisonous rear-fanged Colubridae. Volume 1 contains all species except the rattlesnakes, while Volume 2 covers the latter. The species accounts lead with scientific name and original describer and date, reference to figure (drawing), map (with dots of collections and shading for the suggested range), and plates (colour photographs), synonymy, local names, English name, and etymology. For some species a quotation from an historical observation is added. Sections follow on distribution, habitat, description, similar species, and remarks (including described subspecies and relationships with other species). As comprehensive as these accounts are, there are other topics covered. In volume 1, there is an Introduction, Regional Accounts and separate Keys to Canada and United States, Mexico and Central America, The Caribbean Islands, and South America. Volume 2 includes chapters on Venomous Snake Mimicry, The Evolution of New World Venomous Snakes, Venom Poisoning by North American Reptiles, and Snakebites in Central and South America: Epidemiology, Clinical Features Management. The volume has an 11-page Glossary, and a 116-page Literature Cited. A 28-page index is repeated to conclude each volume. Canada has only three …