FITZSIMONS' SNAKES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

THE SPONSORS' EDITION, IN QUARTER LEATHER LIMITED TO 50 NUMBERED COPIES AND SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, OF WHICH THIS IS NUMBER 31. Totally revised and updated edition of the original 1962 publication. First edition thus

378 pages, with over 200 line drawings and photographs, 83 distribution maps and 85 outstanding colour plates by the eminent animal artist, the late Revd. P. Smit, bibliography and index.

As New in as new slipcase.

Original quarter brown morocco, with 2 raised bands, title on red inlay on spine, marbled boards, in matching heavy brown board, marbled edges, slipcase. 210x230mm Tall in size

The definitive study of the 160 species and subspecies of snakes known to occur in the southern African subcontinent, i.e. south of a line drawn from the Zambezi River in the east to the Kunene River in the west.

When first published in 1962, Snakes of Southern Africa represented practically a lifetime of work by South Africa's great authority on herpetology, the late Dr Vivian F. M. FitzSimons. In the more than twenty years since then. numerous taxonomic changes have been made, including the description of twenty new forms and the relegation of ten others to synonymy, while many new locality records have helped to clarify the distributions of poorly known taxa.

Dr Donald G. Broadley, who assisted with the preparation of the first edition. has revised and updated the entire book, which now includes 117 drawings illustrating details of head scaling, 92 photographs. 83 distribution maps and 81 colour plates of original watercolours by the eminent animal artist. the late P.J. Smit.

A new chapter on venom and the treatment of snakebite has been provided by Dr P.A. Christensen, consultant at the South African Institute for Medical Research. A full description of every form is provided, together with synoptic keys, bibliography, field notes and details of colour, size and distribution.

The introduction provides the necessary background for the layman and the bibliography covers the relevant literature up to 1982. A general map supplements the distribution maps with geographical details and place-names.