towards the genetic and evolutionary approach to the study of behavior. Al- 

 though the environment is not considered all-important, it is alotted a much 

 greater role than in the writings of most present-day specialists in this field. The 

 author's views are illustrated with numerous previously unpublished observations 

 on the postnatal ontogeny of behavior in birds, dogs, and cats. 



After an introductory chapter there follow two chapters on the ontogeny of 

 behaviour (prenatal and postnatal respectively; the former in fish, amphibians, 

 birds, and mammals). In the next two chapters the author introduces two new 

 concepts, viz. "behavioral gradients" and "behavioral potential". The former 

 concept applies mainly to embryonic behavior and is intended to replace both 

 the concept of local reflexes and that of "total pattern" (Coghill); its discussion 

 is almost entirely theoretical. The latter concept is illustrated with numerous 

 examples taken from postnatal behavior. Chapters 6 and 7 are entitled "Stimulus 

 and environmental context" and "Morphological, biophysical, and biochemical 

 factors" respectively. 



The book is concluded by a summary and epilogue. It has no illustrations, but 

 contains a 25-page bibliography and a combined author and subject index. 



24 CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF THE CAROTID ARTERIES 

 An angiographic study and a review of the literature 

 1968 



By T. A. Lie Excerpta Medica Foundation 



Excerpta Medica Monograph Amsterdam 



143 pp., 31 figs., 27 pis., 6 tbs. Price: H.fl. 36.— 



The author of this monograph is a neurosurgeon at the St. Elisabeth Hospital 

 in Tilburg, Netherlands. The book is based on a series of over 3.000 arterio- 

 grams made in this hospital and in some other neuroradiological departments in 

 the Netherlands. The work is of particular value because the normal embryology 

 of the aortic arches and their associated arteries is extensively discussed, and 

 because the literature dealing with abnormalities of the carotid arteries at their 

 origin in the cervical region and at the base of the skull is reviewed. 



The book is well-produced and is illustrated with numerous excellent angio- 

 grams and schematic line-drawings. There is a ten-page reference list, up-to-date 

 until early in 1967, and a subject index. 



25 CURRENT TOPICS IN DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 



Vol. 1, 1966 

 Vol. 2, 1967 



Editors: A. Monroy and A. A. Moscona Academic Press 



Vol. 1: 317 pp., 100 figs., 20 tbs. New York - London 



Vol. 2:311 pp., 71 figs., 20 tbs. Price: Vol. 1: $ 12.50 



Vol. 2: $ 14.— 



Contents vol. 1: On "masked" forms of messenger RNA in early embryogenesis and in other 

 differentiating systems (A. S. Spirin); The transcription of genetic information in the spiralian 

 embryo (J. R. CoHier); Some genetic and biochemical aspects of the regulatory program for 

 slime mold development (M. Sussman); The molecular basis of differentiation in early develop- 

 ment of amphibian embryos (H. Tiedemann); The culture of free plant cells and its significance 



25 



