Green Herons toss breadcrumbs into the water to attract fish - have they been watching human anglers? Do they know what they are doing? Termites cut air shafts into their nests - do they understand? This suggests a sophisticated planning ability. In this book, the Goulds examine the evidence of the mental capacities of animals, moving from primary perceptual processing to what are usually considered the most advanced forms of thought and language, with a final chapter on that animal we see in the mirror every day. Throughout the book, the Goulds challenge basic assumptions about animal cognition and ask are animals capable of thought and awareness?