Abstract: Wynne-Edwards has written this interesting and important book as a sequel to his earlier (1962) Animal Dispersion in Relation to Social Behaviour. Reviewing it has proven to be a valuable task for one who normally is only at the periphery of the group selection controversy. My comments will be organized into three sections: one regarding the factual content of the book, a second attempting to relate my own expectations and predictions based on soft selection with facts described by Wynne-Edwards, and a third criticizing the argument that has been advanced for group selection. A number of important studies have been summarized in this book. Foremost is the extensive work on red grouse with which Wynne-Edwards has been associated for more than 30years. A great deal of ecological, physiological, nutritional, and behavioural information regarding this bird has been reviewed in seven chapters (pp. 84-170) with additional comments liberally sprinkled elsewhere. Anyone interested in avian biology who has missed this important study must read this book. Also extensively reviewed is the work of Michael Wade on group selection in Tribolium, the flour beetle. Wade's data are presented in enough detail that his work can be understood by those who have not seen the original publications. [Twice (pp. 210 and 233) reference is made to a 40-fold difference between two of Wade's selected lines, whereas the figure on p. 209 suggests that the difference is nearer 7-fold. Figure 11-16 also contains an error.] A number of other studies have been reviewed in some, but not exhaustive, detail. Among these are Smithers and Terry's analysis of immunology in schistosomiasis, Birdsell's studies of the social structure of Australian aborigines and Sewell Wright's shifting balance theory of evolution. Numerous other observations are cited in the text, none in so great detail as those mentioned here, and many in such rapid succession as nearly to overwhelm the reader. Many of Wynne-Edwards' conclusions are based on densityand frequencydependent selection, territoriality and the migration of individuals between and within populations at various heirarchal levels (in-groups, demes, populations and higher categories). Still, there is no mention of authors such as Howard Levene or Wyatt Anderson. Consequently, I feel justified in presenting