Rattlesnakes of Arizona, Vol. 1: Species Accounts and Natural History + Vol. 2: Conservation, Behavior, Venom, and Evolution + Book of Plates, housed in slipcase (special leatherbound limited edition)

Pp. (vol. 1): 734; numerous color photos; (vol. 2): 485; numerous color photos; (portfolio of plates): 21 color plates.  Full black leather, lettered in silver on the spine and on the front cover with color photo inlay of a rattlesnake on the front, housed in black leather-covered hard slipcase with color photo inlay of a rattlesnake on both sides of the slipcase, with original cardboard shipping box, oblong 4to.  This special leatherbound edition is limited to 200 copies only.  The original art is by Tell Hicks and the foreword is by Bayard H. Brattstrom.  Volume 1 on the natural history of Arizona’s rattlesnakes has 17 chapters by 22 leading authorities covering all aspects of natural history, behavior, evolution, and conservation. A special chapter is on art and rattlesnakes. Volume 2 (Conservation, Behavior, Venom, and Evolution) is a collection of 13 highly focused, synthetic chapters by 22 leading experts covering a wide range of topics, from phylogenetics and genomics to reproduction and social behavior. Emphasis is on species of Arizona and nearby areas in the Southwest. Conservation is highlighted in two chapters. Several chapters are dedicated solely to the development and evolution of the rattle.  No academic work on rattlesnakes would be complete without a chapter on venom.  A must-have set for anyone interested in the rattlesnakes and their role in southwestern deserts and other ecosystems.  This set is illustrated with hundreds of color images, graphs, and tables (from the advertising blurb).  New copy still shrink-wrapped. This is a large and heavy set that will require extra shipping.