Social Behaviour in Animals

This book is not intended as an exhaustive review of facts. Its aim is rather the presentation of a biological approach to the phenomena of social behaviour. This type of approach was revived by Lorenz’s pioneer studies. 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-function, causation, evolution; by emphasis on an appropriate sequence of description, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis; and finally by emphasis on the need for continuous re-synthesis. Thus Allee’s works mainly concerned with the various uses animals derive from crowding; there is little mention of the causes underlying social co-operation, and when dealing with these causes, attention id focused entirely on the phenomenon of peck-order- an interesting, but minor aspect of social organizatipn. Author wanted to formulate and emphasize some new theories which he consider important because of their great heuristic value. Thus the significance of intra-specific fighting, the causation of threat and courtship behaviour, the functions of releases, and other problems to which the new approach has made distinct contributions, have been presented in some detail, and an attempt has been made to give them their proper place in the complex system of problems.