Systematic contents: 1. Podicipediformes: I. Family: Podicipedidae. 2. Pelecaniformes: I. Family: Pelecanidae. II. Family: Phalacrocoracidae. 3. Cinconiiformes: I. Family: Ardeidae. II. Family: Ciconiidae. III. Family: Threski ornithidae. IV. Family: Phoenicopteridae. 4. Anseriformes: I. Family: Anatidae. 5. Falconiformes: I. Family: Accipitridae. II. Family: Falconidae. 6. Galliformes: I. Family: Phasianidae. 7. Gruiformes: I. Family: Turnicidae. II. Family: Gruidae. III. Family: Rallidae. IV. Family: Otididae. V. Family: Jacanidea. VI. Family: Rostratulidea. VII. Family: Recurvirostridae. VIII. Family: Burhinidae. IX. Glareolidae. X. Family: Charadriidae. XI. Family: Laridae. 8. Columbiformes: I. Family: Pteroclididae. II. Family: Columbidae. 9. Psittaciformes: I. Family: Psittacidae. 10. Cuculiformes: I. Family: Cuculidae. 11. Strigiformes: I. Family: Strigidae. 12. Caprimulgiformes: I. Family: Caprimulgidae. 13. Apodiformes: I. Family: Apodidae. 14. Coraciiformes: I. Family: Alcedinidae. II. Family: Meropidae. III. Family: Coraciidae. IV. Family: Upupidae. V. Family: Capitonidae. VI. Family: Picidae. 15. Passeriformes: I. Family: Pittidae. II. Family: Alaudidae. III. Family: Hirundinidae. IV. Family: Laniidae. V. Family: Oriolidae. VI Family: Dicruridae. VII. Family: Sturnidae. VIII. Family: Corvidae. IX. Family: Campephagidae. X. Family: Irenidae. XI. Family: Pycnonotidae. XII. Family: Muscicapidae. XIII. Family: Paridae. XIV. Family: Sittidae. XV. Family: Nectariniidae. XVI. Family: Ploceidae. XVII. Family: Fringillidae. XVIII. Family: Emberizidae.
From the introduction: "A consolidated account on birds of the arid and semi-arid areas of northwestern India have been in some demand among naturalists for the past few decades. Birds of such arid areas are not restricted only to the boundries of India but are also spread over, on the basis of physiographic conditions, to countries of Southwest Asia as well. Portions of the two states of northwest India, viz., Rajasthan and Gujarat are drought affected arid areas where desert is well established and the tentacles of aridity have penetrated into contiguous areas of Punjab and Haryana as also of Western Madhya Pradesh. An account of birds inhabiting such arid and semi-arid tracts as found in the aforesaid states, has been prepared to meet the need of the day. This not only enlists birds specially adapted to live under desert conditions but also includes such which have greater flexibility of adaptation to move with seasonally changing physiographic conditions.
