This is the fascinating story of a self-educated naturalist who turned a hobby into a life's work—a hobby that started with snakes and developed into a special interest in crocodiles and alligators. Today this hobbyist is an outstanding authority on reptiles and his knowledge is appreciated by all scientific workers in the field. He has saved hundreds of lives through his venom laboratory which supplies the material of of which antiserum is produced and which protects the victims of poisonous snake bites from its deadly results.

Ross Allen is herpetologist, who owns and operates the Reptile Institute in Silver Springs, Florida, practically a family enterprise. His young sons are as at home with snakes and frogs as most children are with dogs and cats. His wife accompanies him on collecting trips; processes the canning of rattlesnake pellets which are shipped all over the world. Allen himself lectures, writes and does endless necessary tasks no one else can be trusted to do.

Ross Allen is a man of action, who exemplifies the American outdoor type. He worked his way through college, holds the rank of Eagle Scout, is a champion swimmer as he needs to be, since so much of his activity is concerned with capturing alligators and snakes. He has spent 25 years on exploring trips to Central and South America, through the Everglades, and in the Okefenokee Swamps and many of his adventures have been recorded for movie shorts.

In this book which is a "must" for every nature lover, outdoor biologist and armchair adventurer, Mr. Hylander tells among other things, the story of antivenom and practical uses of snake venom; gives hints on harmless snakes; how to recognize poisonous snakes; the Everglades and its new national park; iguana hunts in Honduras; how to keep reptiles in captivity. Above all, it is the kind of success story that proves that truth is stranger than fiction and shows how one man's curiosity about reptiles led to a most successful and unusual livelihood.

From the book