This text investigates the taxonomic classification, distribution, and identification of vertebrate species found within the United States. W. Frank Blair and his co-authors provide a comprehensive biological survey intended for researchers, students, and naturalists. The work utilizes established zoological nomenclature and morphological data to categorize diverse animal populations across various American ecosystems.

Experts recognize this volume as a foundational reference work for North American vertebrate zoology. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose and the reliance on traditional morphological identification methods.