Recorded observations on animal behaviour in India date back to ancient times. Behaviour of various animals was observed and described in ancient Indian classics. Many species of animals have been described as 'Vahanas,' that is, animals ridden by various Hindu deities. The sculptures and drawings of a number of deities also include these mounts with their characteristic behavioural patterns. However, scientific investigations on animal behaviour is a recently developed branch of biological science in India, initiated in the late 1950's. Systematic ethological research on various species of Indian animals was begun only in early 1970's, after the formation of the Ethological Society of India. At present a variety of topics such as foraging and feeding behaviour, habitat selection, social and reproductive behaviour, chronobiology, chemical communication signals and neurobehaviour are being investigated by Indian ethologists, who are mainly zoologists, and a few psychologists. A wide range of species from lower metazoa to higher vertebrates are observed by ethologists in India. An analysis of the development of ethology in India indicates that the progress of this discipline as a major field of research and teaching in India is satisfactory. Further, if the present trend is maintained, ethology should develop as a major discipline of animal research in India by the year 2000.

Animals possess a behavioral repertoire, which forms the basis of activity patterns. In the present investigation, the behavioral sequences of seven palm civets were observed in captivity during 18:00- 06:00 h. The transitions from one behavioral state to another were revealed using a contingency table representing the six behavioral states viz ., resting, feeding, comfort behavior, social behavior, sniffing behavior and locomotion. The behavior sequences were elucidated using a first order Markov chain model. The hypothesis for the first order Markov chain model against a zero order chain is sustaining in palm civets and the probability of the animal being in a particular state depends on the immediately preceding act and all other past history is immaterial.

Six male and six female black bucks were observed in the Trivandrum Zoo for one year. Sequential patterns of behavior were homogeneous throughout all observation periods. Sequences were longer with more acts occurring during morning hours than evening hours. However, acts were of shorter duration during noon hours. Sexually dimorphic features were reflected in the behavior sequences. The dominant buck was more active and aggressive than other group members. The behavior sequences of the black bucks are explained in terms of a first order Markov chain with five states. Inhibiting and directing behavior patterns are discussed within an ecological, functional framework.