MODIFICATION OF CLAY FORMS BY TUFTED CAPUCHINS (CEBUS-APELLA)

We examined modification of clay forms by tufted capuchins (Cebus apel la) by presenting groups of subjects with clay, paint, stones, leaves, and sticks. In Experiment 1, 7 of 10 subjects reshaped portable forms with their hands and with stones, and decorated them with leaves and paint. In Experiment 2, 9 subjects marked clay slabs manually and with stick and stone tools. The manipulative propensities of Cebus can hel p us to understand psychological processes that underlie artistic expr ession in Homo and Pan.