ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

by J.L. Cloudsley-Thompson ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

Popular efforts to establish strong analogies between human and animal behavior apparently cause consternation in some scientific circles. Here is yet another professorial volume devoted in large part to debunking the idea that human beings can learn significant facts about one another's actions from the study of animal behavior patterns. In between expressing his opinion on this subject Prof. Cloudsley-Thompson offers us a rather random series of accounts of the actions of some animals. He covers the familiar gamut of social actions: mating, feeding, migration, territorial defense, etc. Isolated bits of information in his book are certainly very interesting, but little can be said in behalf of the book as general reading material, whatever its value to a reference library. The line drawings are not particularly remarkable; nor are most of the 16 photographs -- while visually excellent -- exceptionally illustrative of points made in the text. Originally published in England, this work will probably not appeal as much to American laymen as may Adolf Portman's current Animals as Social Beings (Viking- p. 5490).

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1961

Categories: NONFICTION