Raccoons are a successful group of animals because they are able to defend themselves and they have characteristics which give them a remarkable ability to adjust or adapt. The raising of captured baby raccoons can cause survival problems for the animals. (CM)

Considers the potential value of two bodies of thought arising from work on animals in connection with rehabilitating abnormal behavior. One deals with the processes of catch-up and self-regulation, the other with optional periods of learning in development. (MP)

An interview with Duane Rumbaugh and Mary Ann Romski, researchers on the use of alternative communication systems for severely and profoundly retarded persons, focuses on applications from their primate research and the use of a computerized keyboard system to investigate language acquisition in severely retarded persons. (CL)

Reviews six books dealing with animals and ecology. (AEA)

Describes five new children's books about animals and other books about the development of anesthetics, the effects of bacteria, and the discovery of pheromones (scent chemicals that facilitate communication between members of an animal species). (GT)

The rhythmic patterning of man's biochemical, physiological, and psychological behavior and the temporal relationships among various functions are the province of chronobiology. Citing animal and human studies, the author documents the progress of this new science and poses complex questions that it may answer about human behavior. (Editor/SJL)

Studies the effects of playroom deprivation on self-motion play, or peragration, for rhesus monkeys of ages 24 to 36 weeks. (Author/SS)

The origin of the Big Dipper is described in this Canadian Indian legend. (RTS)

This delightful American Indian legend describes a meeting between a mountain lion, numerous domesticated cats, and a small boy. (RTS)

College biology students were asked to indicate whether they liked, disliked, or were neutral to each of 30 animals. Results indicate that Bart's conclusions (EJ 062 862), based on the assumption that students either like or dislike animals, may be unfounded. (BT)

Aims at providing data for evaluating the proposition that associations between exteroceptive (outside) stimuli and illness play a role in determining the effect of unconditioned stimulus preexposure on subsequent taste aversion conditioning. (Author/RK)

Discusses four experiments concerned with environmental determiners of the taste familiarity effect. Specifically, external environmental stimulation experienced by the subject at the time of taste preexposure and taste conditioning was varied in order to assess its influence on taste aversion learning. (Author/RK)

Three studies examined whether and when preschool children are willing to attribute internal and immanent causes to motion. Found that preschool children were more likely to attribute immanent cause to motion in animals than in artifacts and more likely to attribute human cause to motion in artifacts than in animals. (MDM)

Describes the construction of a sturdy earthworm box that can provide students with firsthand experience with earthworms. Presents activities that enable students to observe earthworms and discover how they enrich the soil. (JRH)

Presents different methods for teaching animal classification to young children. Discusses modeling, observation, and the use of Venn diagrams among other approaches. (NB)