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Experimental animal behaviour: a selection of laboratory exercises
205
such as the Kramer bowl or the partial activities captors (e.g. mastication). The third part presents the various classical preparations described in the literature. The most studied insects are cockroaches, flies and crickets. In some cases, recording and stimulation (in the brain or along the nervous chain) can be done on free-moving animals, or movable but maintained to a fixed point: this allows direct correlation between nervous and behavioral activities. In the last part, the study of organs or tissue preparations is considered with various types of transductors: photic, thermic, electromechanic and electronic, or by combinations of these types of information. Some studies of organs are described in detail; for example, the recording of respiratory movements, of the contraction of pulsatory organs (e.g. dorsal vessel) or of various parts of the alimentary duct. The end of the chapter deals with the classical preparations “isolated nerve” and “nerve-muscle”. Such a work is certainly very useful in a laboratory where electrophysiological studies on insects are carried out, in so far as it proposes a rather comprehensive catalogue of the actual possibilities (of 2 years ago) with precise references for the equipment and apparatus and also the designs for electrical wirings. Moreover, it indicates the names and addresses of the principal suppliers, thus allowing the user to apply the techniques as directly as possible. Finally, the extremely abundant and varied bibliography constitutes a fairly complete work-tool. However, it is regrettable that the part concerning actography (a bit marginal with respect to the project) is so much developed, when modern methods - in particular those combining neurophysiology and neuroanatomy (Co S, yellow procyon, . . .) - as well as histological and histochemical techniques related to the nervous system are not even tackled. Furthermore, this book suffers the fault inherent in this type of technical work that, on account of delays for publication, diffusion and utilisation, it is likely to become quickly out-of-date. R. CAMPAN
(Toulouse,
EXPERIMENTAL
Experimental
ANIMAL
France)
BEHAVIOUR
Animal Behaviour:
a Selection
of Laboratory
Exercises.
M.H. Hansel1 and J.J. Aitken. Blackie, Glasgow and London, figs., 12 tables, 186 pp., E 8.25 (‘77), ISBN o-216-90325-4.
1977.
115
This book is effectively a handbook for teachers (and students) in schools, colleges and universities. The choice is oriented according to experimental tradition in zoology and biology and the pedagogic concern prevails. In the first part, the authors present a very exhaustive but not very thorough recall of the principal techniques in experimental research in the field of animal behaviour, including a chapter on the way to draw up a work report.
206
The basic principles of experimental design are reviewed, but the problems of interpreting results, constructing hypotheses and especially of induction and generalisation are hardly mentioned. The second part is mostly organized around sample species, particularly suitable for experimental demonstrations. Only 6 of the 26 chapters are concerned with terrestrial vertebrates. There are a lot of details about rearing, capture, reproduction, the preparation of various demonstrations based on behaviours peculiar to certain species, including observations or demonstrations devoted to intra-specific relations. With each chapter there are some basic bibliographical references, relatively specialized , giving the reader the opportunity to find important sources in order to go further in the carrying out of such exercises. The work is carefully presented, with clear and well-balanced layout, and is printed on semi-glossy paper. The book concludes with a very comprehensive index. M. WEYERS
(Pellenberg,
Belgium)
such as the Kramer bowl or the partial activities captors (e.g. mastication). The third part presents the various classical preparations described in the literature. The most studied insects are cockroaches, flies and crickets. In some cases, recording and stimulation (in the brain or along the nervous chain) can be done on free-moving animals, or movable but maintained to a fixed point: this allows direct correlation between nervous and behavioral activities. In the last part, the study of organs or tissue preparations is considered with various types of transductors: photic, thermic, electromechanic and electronic, or by combinations of these types of information. Some studies of organs are described in detail; for example, the recording of respiratory movements, of the contraction of pulsatory organs (e.g. dorsal vessel) or of various parts of the alimentary duct. The end of the chapter deals with the classical preparations “isolated nerve” and “nerve-muscle”. Such a work is certainly very useful in a laboratory where electrophysiological studies on insects are carried out, in so far as it proposes a rather comprehensive catalogue of the actual possibilities (of 2 years ago) with precise references for the equipment and apparatus and also the designs for electrical wirings. Moreover, it indicates the names and addresses of the principal suppliers, thus allowing the user to apply the techniques as directly as possible. Finally, the extremely abundant and varied bibliography constitutes a fairly complete work-tool. However, it is regrettable that the part concerning actography (a bit marginal with respect to the project) is so much developed, when modern methods - in particular those combining neurophysiology and neuroanatomy (Co S, yellow procyon, . . .) - as well as histological and histochemical techniques related to the nervous system are not even tackled. Furthermore, this book suffers the fault inherent in this type of technical work that, on account of delays for publication, diffusion and utilisation, it is likely to become quickly out-of-date. R. CAMPAN
(Toulouse,
EXPERIMENTAL
Experimental
ANIMAL
France)
BEHAVIOUR
Animal Behaviour:
a Selection
of Laboratory
Exercises.
M.H. Hansel1 and J.J. Aitken. Blackie, Glasgow and London, figs., 12 tables, 186 pp., E 8.25 (‘77), ISBN o-216-90325-4.
1977.
115
This book is effectively a handbook for teachers (and students) in schools, colleges and universities. The choice is oriented according to experimental tradition in zoology and biology and the pedagogic concern prevails. In the first part, the authors present a very exhaustive but not very thorough recall of the principal techniques in experimental research in the field of animal behaviour, including a chapter on the way to draw up a work report.
206
The basic principles of experimental design are reviewed, but the problems of interpreting results, constructing hypotheses and especially of induction and generalisation are hardly mentioned. The second part is mostly organized around sample species, particularly suitable for experimental demonstrations. Only 6 of the 26 chapters are concerned with terrestrial vertebrates. There are a lot of details about rearing, capture, reproduction, the preparation of various demonstrations based on behaviours peculiar to certain species, including observations or demonstrations devoted to intra-specific relations. With each chapter there are some basic bibliographical references, relatively specialized , giving the reader the opportunity to find important sources in order to go further in the carrying out of such exercises. The work is carefully presented, with clear and well-balanced layout, and is printed on semi-glossy paper. The book concludes with a very comprehensive index. M. WEYERS
(Pellenberg,
Belgium)