Robert Armitage Sterndale compiles a comprehensive manual of Indian mammalogy to fill a gap left by prior works that excluded Assam, Burma, and Ceylon. The text systematically covers the classification of mammals from the order Bimana down to Edentata, largely following Cuvier's framework while integrating modern scientific updates.
The volume opens with an extensive examination of primates, detailing numerous species of langurs, macaques, and gibbons. The author records anatomical specifics and behavioural traits observed both in the wild and in captivity, noting instances where indigenous lore intersects with zoological reality.
Subsequent chapters address bats, insectivores, and carnivores, dedicating significant attention to the habits of predators such as bears, martens, and felines. The work balances dry anatomical details, such as dental formulas and skeletal structures, with anecdotes from the author and his contemporaries regarding jungle life.
Rodents, ungulates, cetaceans, and edentates receive similar exhaustive treatment, accompanied by detailed lists of species and geographic distributions. Throughout the work, Sterndale relies on foundational authorities while maintaining a conversational style grounded in personal field experience across British India.
