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Book Reviews – Buchbesprechungen – Livres nouveaux J. Schmitt: Immunbiologische Untersuchungen bei Primaten. Bibliotheca Primatologica, No. 8. Karger, Basel/New York 1968. 146 p., 21 fig., 69 tab. US $ 9.40. Immunobiological studies of primate proteins have interested a number of investigators recently. Schmitt of Justus-Liebig University in Giessen presents us with a survey of the literature and the results of his own detailed investigations on the blood group systems and some polymorphic plasma proteins of a variety of primate species. The serological work appears to be excellent, and the discussion of the biosynthesis of blood group substances has merit. The monograph begins with an account of primate evolution. This is an attempt to present a brief survey of the major taxa and is not entirely successful. The chapter on the techniques of blood grouping is valuable and comprehensive. In the chapter that follows, the ABO blood group system is reviewed. This is an adequate, brief review of the literature, and some interesting comments on the ABO blood groups in nonhuman primates are included. The same approach is used in the chapters on the P and MN systems. The Rhesus system is, as usual, a nuisance, and Schmitt clearly does no better than any of the rest of us in attempting to untangle the ghastly mess found in the literature. It is clear that he has done little work of his own on this system and he does not speak beyond his information. The chapter on various serum groups is not a particularly outstanding review of the literature. There are some surprising omissions in the bibliography. Chapter eight, in which Schmitt attempts to construct phyletic schemes using blood group systems and serum proteins, merely demonstrates that German investigators are as naive as Americans when it comes to using immunobiology to enlighten us about the phylogenetic history of living primates. It is a distinct disappointment to me that Schmitt’s excellent laboratory work and the thoroughness of his survey of the literature are not matched by a sophisticated and thorough analysis of ways of relating phylogeny and serology. All in all, except for the few weaknesses mentioned, this is a good survey of the literature, and it also contains the results of the author’s well-conducted experimental work. J. Buettner-Janusch, Durham, N. C. Proceedings of the Second International Congress of Primatology, Atlanta, Ga. 1968. Vol. 1: Behavior. Ed. C. R. Carpenter. X + 282 p., 82 fig., 24 tab.; vol. 2: Recent Advances in Primatology. Ed. H. O. Hofer. XIV + 223 p., 29 tab.; vol. 3: Neurology, Physiology and Infectious Diseases. Ed. H. O. Hofer. XIV + 203 p., 84 fig., 19 tab. Karger, Basel/München/NewYork 1969. sFr. 166.50. Founded in 1963, the International Primatological Society celebrated its first international biennial congress in 1966, and is currently enjoying its third. The research interests in primatology have diversified, expanded and intensified phenomenally during the past two decades. The slim volume recording the papers presented at the first congress has bios124 Book Reviews – Buchbesprechungen – Livres nouveaux somed into three volumes totalling more than 700 pages contributed by about 200 authors for the second congress.