Social Behaviour in Animals With Special Reference to Vertebrates

HIS book is not intended as an exhaustive review T f facts. I ts aim is rather the presentation of a bio­ logical approach to the phenomena of social behaviour. This type of approach was revived by Lorenz's pioneer stnJies. It is characterized by emphasis on the need for renewed and careful observation of the huge variety of social phenomena occurring in nature; by emphasis on a balanced study of the three main biological problems­ (unction, causation, evolution; by emphasis on an appro­ priate sequence of description, qualitative analysis, quanti­ tative analysis; and finally by emphasis on the need for continuous re-synthesis. The character of this approach, combined with the limitations of space, have determined this book's contents. Limits of space led to the omission of a great deal of de scrip­ tion. Thus, Deegener's voluminous work on the multitude of types of animal aggregations has not been discussed. Also, the highly specialized 'states' of social insects have not been treated in detail, since there are excellent books dealing exclusively with them.

I Introduction.- II Mating Behaviour.- III Family and Group Life.- IV Fighting.- V Analysis of Social Co-Operation.- VI Relations between Different Species.- VII The Growth of Social Organizations.- VIII Evolutionary Aspects of Social Organization.- IX Some Hints for Research in Animal Sociology.