Play and evolution : second thoughts on the behaviour of animals /

Kortmulder offers an interesting monograph on the role and form of play behavior in the vertebrates, from ascidians to primates. He aims to provide a general framework for a wide range of behavior that might be termed playful. His approach is based in theoretical ethology and will find its readership primarily among professionals in the behavioral sciences. Undergraduates will find the presentation difficult: although the writing is free of jargon, the concepts are complex and the vocabulary is advanced. Several diagrams, graphs, and tables illustrate theoretical concepts. Chapter references; useful appendix. T. C. Williams; Swarthmore College