I. The Desert as a Habitat.- Distribution.- Soils.- Climate.- Vegetation.- References.- II. The Ecology of Rodents in the northern Sudan.- Desert Species.- Jebel Species.- Riverine Species.- Commensal Species.- Reproduction.- Other Adaptations for Life in the Desert.- Discussion.- Acknowledgements.- References.- III. The Rodents of the Iranian Deserts.- The Rodents: northern and southern Types.- Annual Rhythm.- Population Densities.- Some Peculiarities.- References.- IV. Comparative Ecological Notes on Afghan Rodents.- Results.- Discussion.- Summary.- References.- V. The Population Ecology of the Rodents of the Rajasthan Desert, India.- Population Structure.- Ranges of Movements.- Food.- Predator-Prey Relationship.- Breeding Season and Litter Size.- References.- VI. Outbreaks of Rodents in Semi-Arid and Arid Australia: Causes, Preventions, and Evolutionary Considerations.- Climates in Central Australia.- The Study-Area: Habitats and Rodents.- Populations.- Conclusions and Discussion.- Acknowledgements.- References.- VII Observations of Argentine Desert Rodent Ecology, with Emphasis on Water Relations of Eligmodontia typus.- The Argentine Monte and some of its Rodents.- Methods and Materials.- Results and Discussion.- Acknowledgements.- References.- VIII. La diversité des Gerbillidés.- IX. Some Observations on Ecological Adaptations of Desert Rodents and Suggestions for further Research work.- The Desert Environment.- Ecological Adaptations.- Need for further Research.- References.- X. The Behavior Patterns of Desert Rodents.- The Evolution of Desert Adaptations.- A Comparison of Behavior Patterns.- A Comparison of Behavior Patterns in : Meriones, Gerbillus and Perognathus.- Spacing and Communication.- Acknowledgements.- References.- XI Activity Patterns of a DesertRodent.- Methods.- The Microdosimeter and the Index of Activity.- Variation in Activity.- Climatological Variables and Animal Activity.- Analysis.- Discussion.- Summary.- References.- XII. Patterns of Food, Space and Diversity.- Resource Allocation by Seed Selection.- Habitat Selection in Space.- The Pattern of Local Species Diversity.- Acknowledgements.- References.- XIII. Desert Coloration in Rodents.- Desert Coloration.- Acknowledgements.- References.- XIV. The Biology of some Desert-Dwelling Ground Squirrels.- Reproduction.- Food Habits.- Population Characteristics.- Habitat Factors.- References.- XV. Reproductive Biology of North American Desert Rodents.- Reproductive Biology: Species Summaries.- References.- XVI. Rodent Faunas and Environmental Changes in the Pleistocene of Israel.- The Main Biogeographical Changes in the Near-East since the Miocene.- The Composition of the Rodents Faunas in the Pleistocene of Israel.- The Main Ecological Changes in the Quarternary of Israel.- Analysis of the Main Habitats Occupied by the Pleistocene Rodents of Israel.- Note on the Origin of the Israeli Desert Rodents.- References.- XVII. Prehistoric Rodents of the Middle East.- Prehistoric Rodents.- Discussion.- Acknowledgements.- References.- Addenda.- XVIII. Desert Rodents : Physiological Problems of Desert Life.- Problems of Temperature Regulation.- Water Balance, Intake and Loss.- References.- XIX. Ecophysiology of Water and Energy in Desert Marsupials and Rodents.- Methods.- Ecophysiology of Water and Energy.- Discussion.- References.- XX. Thermo-Regulation and Water Economy in Indian Desert Rodents.- Methods.- Thermo-Regulation.- Water Economy.- Conclusion.- References.- XXI. The Physiological Adaptations of Desert Rodents.- Water Conservation in Desert Rodents.- Structureand Concentrating Mechanisms in the Desert Rodent Kidney.- Tolerance to Heat and Thermo-Regulation of Desert Rodents.- Reproduction in Desert Rodents.- References.- XXII. Nematode Parasites of the Indian Desert Rodents.- Material and Methods.- Nematode Parasites of the Indian Desert Rodents.- Discussion.- References.- XXIII. Ecology of the Desert Rodents of the U.S.S.R. (Jerboas and Gerbils).- Jerboas.- Gerbils.- References.- Author Index.- Genus and Species Index.