Ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali's book The Book of Indian Birds is a guide for bird lovers. This book was first published in 1941. Dr. Salim Ali finally brought out the eleventh edition in 1979 with necessary changes. Since then, this edition has been reprinted five times. On the occasion of Dr. Salim Ali's birth centenary, the twelfth edition of the book was published with amendments in 1996. It included 538 birds. This book and subsequent editions feature illustrations by the famous bird painter Carl DeSilva. One illustration is by Dr. Salim Ali's favourite painter J.P. Irani.