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Different theoretical models and methods exist which help to tackle the question of perception and learning in evolution. Waddington's genetic assimilation and its counterpart, the 'Wright Effect', provide a good methodological framework for experiments and simulations. Comparative analysis, in which phylogenetic as well as ecological aspects are considered, is another useful tool. These approaches consider cognitive processes with their simultaneous involvement in selective processes; they say very little about their emergence.

Recourse to anthropomorphism, folk psychology, or discontinuist thought, in order to take into account the richness of animal cognitive processes and of their evolution, is of some heuristic value. However, in the absence of recognised criteria allowing the hypothesised behavioural discontinuities between species to be tested and alternative interpretations of anecdotal reports to be selected, there is considerable risk that these alternatives will be ideological rather than scientific. A 'clinical analysis' of this anthropomorphism and discontinuist 'symptom' allows us to unravel its ideological aspect, namely the wishful thinking and the 'egomorphism' of a subject projecting a wishful representation of himself onto one who is not ego, and in turn to investigate its heuristic value in ethnological, psychopathological or animal behavioural studies. This analysis leads us to propose some tools:

Reports on the genetic assimilation of features involving behaviour are very scarce, while they are more common in the fields of morphology and physiology. This paper investigates the theoretical possibility of a genetic assimilation of the 'fleeing direction' in the sandhopper (Talitrus saltator), consistent with Bateson's model of genetic assimilation. This is done from the two simple genetic determinations suggested by L. Pardi and F. Scapini to explain the variability of the feature between populations. The conditions for this genetic assimilation to occur are examined and particular attention is paid to the differences between the properties of the two determinations. Finally, the possible importance of genetic assimilation in the field of animal orientation is discussed., (Copyright © 1992. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The paper discusses how ontogeny may contribute to the evolutionary processes dependent upon natural selection, as well as some of the answers that have been given to this essential question. The problem is addressed in relation to "instinctive" behaviour (maternal care) and to its evolutionary modification. The paper more particularly presents Waddington's contribution and the usefulness of his concept of "genetic assimilation". The conditions under which a specific adaptation might have evolved in the course of such a natural selective process are discussed. Finally, the constant reference to an epigenetic conception of phenotype (behaviour included) appears to be the Waddington's main contribution to evolutionary biology (ethology included)., (Copyright © 1990. Published by Elsevier B.V.)