Class questions

[jakvrh1]

Is this code

  Critter::Critter(int hunger) :
m_Hunger(hunger)
{
	cout << "A critter has been born!" << endl;
	++s_Total;
}

same as this?

  Critter::Critter(int hunger)
{
        m_Hunger = hunger;
	cout << "A critter has been born!" << endl;
	++s_Total;
}

And why would you use static data members?

[MiiNiPaa]

For primitive types yes. For more complex types second version is equivalent to

Critter::Critter(int hunger) : m_Hunger() //Default constructing value
{
    m_Hunger = hunger; //And instantly assign again. 

And why would you use static data members?

If you have some variable which logically belongs to class and is needed to be shared by all instances of it.
http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/statickeyword.html