Walter Penn Taylor (1888-1972) was a senior biologist for the United States Department of Agriculture. Homer LeRoy Shantz (1876-1958) was a botanist, Chief of Division of Wildlife Management, Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, and later, the 10th president of the University of Arizona.
This work is a comprehensive text on general ecology and contains a substantial bibliography. The collection includes a photocopy of a typescript by Taylor, featuring holographic edits and additions by Shantz.