Adaptation has long been a concept in evolutionary biology, and to some extent also in physiological sciences. In the last decade or so it has become a major "focus" through sociogiology and in the studies of animal behaviour. It has also been a matter of debate from time to time in the social sciences and particularly social anthropology. Because of the developments in sociobiololgy there has been a resurgence of interest in the concept in the social sciences. This volume examines, from both biological and cultural perspectives, a particular phenomenon which determines the ways that human populations are organized and work. It aims to present, in a specifically human context, the way the adaptation concept has been used, and the kinds of evidence that have been sought to test and develop it in different fields. Other works by G.A. Harrison include "Famine - Biosocial Society Series 1", "The Structure of Human Populations", "Man in Urban Environments" and "Human Biology".