Gila Monster: Facts and Folklore of America's Aztec Lizard

It is an unfortunate fact of publishing that the people who design book covers are not the same as those who write the books. In fact, authors frequently have little or no say over how their work is packaged. I suspect this is the case for Brown and Carmony's excellent work on Gila monsters. It is true that Gila Monster, Facts and Folklore of America's Aztec Lizard carries errors on the back cover, but there are none in the text. Indeed, Brown and Carmony communicate their fascinating subject in a manner that is both readable and accurate. They present not only a complete picture of Gila Monster biology, but also a fascinating look the animals' cultural significance. I heartily urge this book for anyone who has an interest in the herpetology, natural history, or folklore of the American Southwest.

Fascinating information regarding early envenomations in the American West, a good bibliography, and wonderful introduction to the subject suitable for any naturalist.