364 BOOK RI <VIEWS

based on several approaches such as emer- gence patterns, tooth calcification, and in- cremental markings in histological sections is essential. In the second paper, by Walker and Teaford, microwear analysis is exam- ined as a potential indicator of diet. Al- though differentiation can often be achieved, the authors caution that “tooth microwear studies should not be used alone in dietary reconstruction” (p. 187).

The paper by Maddison and Maddison de- scribes a computer program, MacClade, de- signed to allow the user to work interactively with cladograms. Unlike other programs such as PHYLIP, PAUP, and Hennig86 aimed at automatic construction of optimal trees, MacClade allows the user to investi- gate “what if” kinds of questions, thereby allowing for consideration of alternative hy- potheses that need not be linked to optimal- ity assumptions.

The often implicit evolutionary models un- derlying comparative analysis of taxonomic classes is taken up in papers by Pagel and Harvey and by Friday. Pagel and Harvey discuss in some detail what is, in effect, the phylogenetic equivalent of Galton’s problem. They note that units of observation, such as the species, are not independent due to deri- vation from a common ancestor and suggest that independence can be reintroduced through comparing changes subsequent to an evolutionary event in order to meet the statistical requirement of independent ob- servations. They comment that ‘all compar- ative methods rely either implicitly or explic- itly on some model of how evolution proceeds” (p. 205). A similar theme is devel- oped by Friday in his discussion of the rela- tionship between cladograms based on char- acter states and stochastic models based on molecular data.

The last paper, by Dunbar, considers an organism to be a “coada ted biological sys-

“the fundamental principles of evolutionary biology that dictate that organisms will tend to act in such a way as to maximize their

tem” (p. 245) constraine B to act according to

enetic fitness” (p. 245). Models in this framework become the means to express “the mechanisms through which evolutionary processes work ( . 243) with the aim eluci-

ular lineages” (p. 243). An example is given that pur orts to account for body weights

ecine primates. However, coefficients from a nonsignificant linear equation are used to create a just-so story for factors that affect resting time, and there are editorial errors; e.g., a linear equation is referred to as dem- onstrating a logarithmic relationship.

A largely statistical issue is taken up in the paper by Martin and Barbour on allome- try. They note that different regression coef- ficients are obtained depending on the model used for linear curve fitting; e.g., minimiza- tion of horizontal, versus vertical, versus perpendicular distance to the regression line. The authors suggest replacing the usual bivariate model with a distribution that is uniform along one rotated coordinate axis and normal along the other one. For this distribution, a symmetrical line-fitting tech- nique seems to be more appropriate, which, they note, is consistent with empirical data on interspecific allometric relationships. They assert that the bivariate normal distri- bution is distinguished through obtaining the same result for a least-squares regres- sion line based on the central portion of the distribution as for the whole distribution. However, that claim requires that the cen- tral portion be formed by a small ellipse, not the truncated distribution used by the au- thors.

Overall, the papers are probably more likely to be of individual interest than as a set of papers providing a thorough and defin- itive review of new developments in quanti- tative methods.

dation of “the evo P utionary history of partic-

and time \ udgets for two genera of cercopith-

DWIGHT W. READ De artment of Anthropology

Los Angeles, California U ~ L A

JOURNAL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY, Vol. 1, No. 1. Edited by Indera P. Singh. Delhi: Kamla- Raj Enterprises. 1990. 83 pp., $40.00 (3 is- sues, individuals; paper).

A broad concept of ecology refers to the study of relationships between the environ- ment and species living in it. Environment itself is a complex phenomenon with its or-

BOOK REVIEWS 365

ganic and inorganic components, mutually interacting and influencing one another in many ways. Their independence and inter- dependence in many aspects is the salient characteristic. Because species and environ- ments are large units, it is almost im ossible to study their relationships. Nevert E eless a purposeful study in a given context can be tackled in smaller units, whether it is a human population in an arctic environment, or a baboon group in a savanna setting. Human ecology is especially complex be- cause humans occupy extremely variable en- vironments and over the millenia have de- veloped an additional unique dimension of environment-culture. Besides other forces acting in nature, culture influences the hu- man species and, in turn, the environment. The extraordinarily complex relationship of the human species with other or anic and inorganic components of the eart a renders the study of human ecology all the more problematic. Nonetheless, serious attempts are being made to study various subunits of human species in their given environments.

The publication under review is the out- come of such an attempt and “is designed for the prompt publication of original and signif- icant articles” to disseminate “knowledge which may solve the deteriorating Man-En- vironment relationship” (opening page). It is to be published three times a year b the Indian Society for Human Ecology, InJa . It has six research articles, a brief communica- tion, and book reviews, in the usual format of a journal. From a thematic viewpoint, it presents a variety.

Ungpakorn, Brush, and Harrison present their observations on Constitutional and Life Style Effects on Urinary Steroid and Catecholamine Levels of nine male and nine female subjects between the ages 18 and 58 years from an educational institution. They find that behavioral aspects of individuals affect the consistencies of certain elements of the urinary excretions. The sample size be- ing too small, the reliability of the results needs to be verified with an adequate sample size in the context of a larger population.

Bhasin deals with Environmental Limita- tions and Economic Development. . . of Hi- malayan Gaddis with “a mixed agro astoral

dis with their strong traditions are “a curious mixture of old and new,” where “usefulness of western ideas and techniques” is re- stricted because of “environmental limita-

economy” (p. 5), emphasizing that t R e Gad-

tion” (p. 25). However, no attempt is made to explain the relationship between the strong traditions and the environmental adapta- tions of the people. The paper is well sup- ported by useful maps. Venu and colleagues’ descriptive account of Human Activity and its Impact on Vegetation in Sikkim aims at the “compilation of existing information re- lating to ethnobotany” (p. 27). With a long list of plant varieties, the activity level of the people in relation to plants is minimally commented on, but a few suggestions to keep the environment alive and useful are re- freshing.

The aim of the paper by Das and Lakher on culture change a s . . . a Microlevel Case Study is difficult to comprehend for want of any coherent account of culture changes and analysis. This paper, with no references, gives an impression of an off-the-cuff account beside having other serious drawbacks. It is disappointing.

Rao and Murty examine the Role of Mari- tal Migration in the Expression of Inbreeding Load in Different Castes ofAndhra Pradesh, India. This comparative study of two lower and two higher social strata groups has an uneven sample size with no clarification. The differences in inbreeding loads are as- signed to “the history and level of inbreed- ing” through “marital distance” (p. 45).

Swami and Malik provide information on Sex Differences in Physical Fitness and Exer- cise Induced Changes in Physiological func- tions in a Hot Desert Environment of Rajast- han, India. The study of endogamous Rajput data concludes that the “females possessed more heat activated sweat glands per square centimeter than males” and that the “males were physically more fit as compared to fe- males” (p. 47). As for the second observation, one wonders if the hormonal influences in growth, development, and maturation, amidst other factors as well as male adaptive patterns, were also considered to play some important role in this sexual dimorphic func- tion?

The brief communication on ABO and Rhesus blood fre uencies by Naidu and col-

serological information. The debut of such a publication is a wel-

come addition to the family of anthropologi- cal journals with the support of scholars from around the world. However, its real impact on the scientific community will de- pend very much on the quality of research

leagues simply a a ds to the already existing

366 BOOK REVIEWS

articles printed and ublished. More specifi- cally, it has to exce P not only academically but also administratively, and it is here that the publication has some serious problems. Under appropriate selection criteria, the ar- ticle on culture change would not have found a place, not to deny the fact that no journal presents all material of the same caliber. The second major problem is profuse grammati- cal and spelling mistakes, from the opening pageplaease, to numberical, howerver, croos- checked, on the following age, and disap-

pometry (pages 40, 43, 47, 52, 65 respectively), to name only a few. The gram- matical errors” . , . that they grew and also mustard oil”; “. . . processes begun”; “opening sentence;” “worth mention’’ (pages 39,40,43, and 53, respectively) are the most glaring.

The notice to contributors asserts that “articles without proper editing and with typographical errors will be returned to the authors without any review” (emphasis

pered, maritial, Blittel, an (P Bittel, kinathro-

mine). Spelling mistakes emerge from the press as well, but grammatical errors be- come the responsibility of the editorial staff once the manuscript is accepted. Wherein lies the slackness? From a printing and pub- lication point of view, it is disappointing, and the disappointment is com ounded by find-

editorial cadres. However, the ori ‘nal pur ose of “prompt

quality production. The membership fee is incredibly low, but the subscri tion rates

The pubyication is most welcome, with the hope that it will improve in subsequent is- sues.

ing names of competent sc ! olars in various

publication” is we1 $ $ achieve at the cost of

includin airmail delivery are P airly high.

RIPUDAMAN SINGH Sociology and Anthropology University of Windsor Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

EVOLUTION OF THE BRAIN: CREATION OF THE SELF. By John C. Eccles. London: Routledge. 1989. xv + 282 pp., $25.00 (cloth).

Eccles, the famous neurophysiologist whose work helped clarify the nature of syn- aptic transmission, reflexes, and aspects of ontogenetic differentiation, considers in his latest book Evolution of the Brain: Creation of the Self the question of “how biological evolution transcends itself in providing the material basis, the human brain, for self- conscious beings.” He is particularly inter- ested in how evolution set the stage for each individual to be a unique self-conscious be- ing. In his final synthesis, he re‘ects the idea

supernatural spiritual creation. Whether the reader is persuaded by this dualist argu- ment, the book is an interesting synthesis of mind-brain problems in an evolutionary con- text. Its major deficit is a lack of knowledge and discussion of recent analyses on the evolution of the human brain.

Eccles begins his thesis with a brief over- view of the genetic mechanisms of evolution. This aspect of biology is then dropped until the end, where genetic diversity is rejected as the source of a unique self because genes

that the brain can account for t h is without a

are seen as incapable of penetrating the “developmental noise” of the phenotype.

After introducing the reader to basic con- cepts of genetics, Eccles then provides a tidy summary of hominid evolution, focusing on changes in brain size and cultural adapta- tions. He interprets the fast increase in brain size within the paradigm of punctuated equi- librium. Performance by the enlarged neural circuits becomes the new turf on which nat- ural selection works. Within the context of the enlarged human brain, Eccles examines several human specific behaviors, namely, agility and bipedality, language, reproduc- tion and emotions, artistic creativity, and learning and memo .

Eccles considers t x e neurological basis of the changed behaviors as emanating from uantitative rather than qualitative shifts in

t R e brain, recognizing, as have other com- parative neurobiologists, that the organiza- tion within neural structures is similar among humans and other primates. What differs is the size of functionally specified areas. In comparing the different sizes of various neural regions, Eccles follows Stephan’s lead and uses body weight as the standard. Unfortunately since the human brain has expanded dramatically, this ap-