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Prosimian Behavioural Ecology Sound Waves in Solids 86 Nature Vol. 270 3 November 1977 cribed, raise doubts in the mind. The quality of the result is decidedly un­ Prosimian repertoires of commumcatory and some even, marred by the dubious validity of other behaviours are incomplete and a number of contentions regarding behavioural the social significance of play in lorisids Primate evolution and ecology. Thus, ecology is totally overlooked. Moreover, certain the idea that competition for food is interpretations are suspect or erroneous necessarily eliminated or even reduced of Nocturnal Ecology and Behaviour -for example, that concerning the by a Box-and-Cox temporal partition­ Primates. By P. Charles-Dominique. defensive posture of Arctocebus, and ing of an ecological niche does not Col­ Pp.x + 277 (Duckworth; London; the view that the primary function of stand up to close scrutiny as a general umbia University Press: New York, the prosimian dental comb is gum col­ truth. 1977.) £12.50; $21.90. lection rather than grooming, despite The strength of this book, and it is the indisputable importance of the indeed strength, lies in the author's THE behavioural ecology of the prosi­ former function in Euoticus, so clearly approach to, and resolution of, the mians, an essential element in our shown here. problems of behavioural ecology in his understanding of the evolution of the The title, if not the subtitle of the Gabonese pros1m1ans; and in his order of Primates as a whole, raises book could be misleading if, by it, one demonstration that no aspect or detail special problems not encountered in were led to expect a thorough-going of structure or behaviour is arbitrary, field studies of monkeys and apes. The review of our knowledge of all noctur­ without meaning in terms of the majority of prosimians are small, shy nal primates. In this respect, the work animal's survival. That is reason enough inhabitants of dense forest environ­ is erratic and there are some surprising to commend this volume. ments, solitary in their active phase omissions, even within the narrower Gilbert ff. Manley and, most pertinent here, nocturnal. compass of the Lorisidae. A concluding The task of adequately studying these does attempt to place nocturnal Gilbert H. Manley is Lecturer in Primate chapter A nthro­ and might seem Biology in the Department of in the wild is daunting primates among the diurnal forms in a pology at the University of Durham, UK. impossible at times. Yet this book is a wider perspective, but here again the measure of just how successfully that task can be carried out. In the main, it presents the results of he deals with the understanding almost a decade of research in Gabon cepts, Sound waves the various practical applications. in West Africa on five sympatric of The chapter on ultrasonic experimental species of lorisid (three bushbabies, the in solids is quite comprehensive and potto and the angwantibo) living in the techniques Sound Waves in Solids. By H. F. the latest developments such as ultra­ equatorial rainforest. Covering in great Pollard. Pp. 366. (Pion: London; sonic spectrometry receive adequate detail such areas as feeding and diet, Academic: London, 1977.) £10.50. recognition. The author's own research stratification, locomotion, defence involvement in such work enriches his against predators, and many aspects of presentation of the subject; this also social behaviour and demography, it is THE author of this latest addition to the applies to the chapter in the book concerned not simply with each species rapidly growing literature of acoustics concerned with the exciting field of viewed in isolation but with the vital is Dr Howard F. Pollard who is an acoustic visualisation. A represent­ questions arising from their sympatry. Associate Professor in charge of the ative number of holographic applica­ succeeds in shedding considerable Physical Acoustics Laboratory at the It tions are given, and here the author light on the evolution of this group, the University of New South Wales in has revealed his musical interests by adaptive strategies called forth by the Sydney, and is the leading Australian the inclusion of some reconstructions particular and precise ecological niches worker in this field. The objective of at audiofrequencies. occupy, the specialisations of the author, as indicated in the intro­ they The problem of the choice of refer­ structure and behaviour that have dev­ duction, is to provide initially the ences is difficult in a field like solid­ and especially the manner in necessary theoretical background for eloped, state ultrasonics, which is large and the species the reader to appreciate fully the which competition between rapidly expanding, but the author has minimised. various applied fields of acoustics, such has been helped the reader by including the instances, penetrating and as non-destructive testing. This In most appropriate references at the end of analysis leads to well­ practical aspect is kept well to the fore wide-ranging each chapter. Moreover, those con­ and convincing synthesis. This throughout the book, and uniquely rounded cerned with particular experiments are achieved in two ways: first, the author introduces, after the basic has been given with the text. An author and a skilful use of a variety of field theory, synopses of experiments which by the subject index are also included. The from direct obser­ appropriately illustrate the problem techniques, ranging line diagrams are very clear and also with headlamp to capture-mark­ under discussion. A particular useful­ vation the text, although the use of smaller radio-tracking, ness of the text to the student is the release procedures and print for experimental descriptions valuable provision of sets of questions at the the latter yielding some most gives an impression of over com­ author end of each chapter which are based on information. Second, the pression. finds confir­ the problems is included at the end of repeatedly recognises or The title is indicative of the breadth in specified sections of the foregoing sub­ mation of his emergent hypotheses of the subject so efficiently and clearly untram­ ject matter. A full set of solutions to acute 'casual' observations of discussed by the author, and the book simple the book. melled animals, or in beautifully deserves to be welcomed alike by In considering the general contents manipulations of the forest environ­ students, teachers and research ment or captive circumstances. of the book, it is the chapter on the workers. AIJ this is not to say that Charles­ acoustic waveguides on which R. W. B. Stephens Dominique's account of the Gabonese author can be particularly congratu­ prosimians is complete or without lated. He has introduced this important system of a fault. In places, a paucity of hard data, topic through the simpler R . W. B. Stephens is Senior Visiting unrevealed sample sizes or the absence fluid waveguide, and, having estab­ Research Fellow at Chelsea College, of detail when procedures are des- lished the essential theory and con- University of London, UK. © 1977 Nature Publishing Group.
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