Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!lll-winken!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpfcso!mll
From: mll@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Mark Luce)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Killing for fun
Message-ID: <9560002@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM>
Date: 28 Feb 91 22:25:01 GMT
References: <1991Feb26.202248.26171@odin.corp.sgi.com>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Lines: 10


     Juvenile carnivores often engage in 'play' activities which are
actually learning experiences. They are practicing the predatory skills
which they will need to survive as adults. As such, these 'play' 
stalking, often stalking imaginary objects, because stalking abilities
are (or at least were, in the case of domesticated cats) essential to
their survival. If they get the chance to practice on living prey, they
will naturally do so, even if they are not hungry. Juvenile social
carnivores will practice social hunting skills. I would imagine that
juvenile hominids did much the same sort of thing...