ALBERT

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The first part of this analysis introduces the 26 free-living populations, elaborates on the history of their introduction, describes their development and outlines the boundaries of their present distribution. The total population size is presently estimated at about 1300, the annual hunter harvest amounts to 350 to 400. Table 1 gives information about the habitats of these 26 populations, and in Table 2 biological factors of the populations are dealt with. The mean population size is about 40 animals, but 4 herds consists of 4 or less sheep, while 3 populations have 100 and more members. The size of the ranges varies accordingly. Some small populations in the vicinity of large cities (Dortmund, Bielefeld, Siegen) occupy habitats of 300 to 400 ha in size, others in the mountainous “Hochsauerland” may range over 6000 ha. Table 3 lists characteristics of the populations in regard to colour of the hide, percentage of ewes with horns, susceptability to diseases and parasites. Female sheep with horns have been observed in 12 populations, but only in 3 was that percentage 40 % or more. In 8 populations all rams have the typical “saddle” (“saddle” refers to a light grey-coloured saddle-shaped piece of the hide on the otherwise dark brown back of these sheep), in 13 populations such rams with saddles dominate, while dark rams (melanistic phase) make up less than 10 %. These two colour phases are of about equal magnitude in 7 populations. A woolly coat, which indicates cross-breeding with domestic sheep, has only been sporadically observed in 2 populations. The facial mask (the amount and configuration of white hair in an otherwise dark face) was recognized as a reliable characteristic for determining age in 7 populations, in 6 other populations it is rejected as unpredictable. In the majority its use for recognizing age of the sheep is only recommended in connection with other characteristics. Excessive outgrowing of houres of hooves was observed in 70 % of the mufflon herds. A very high parasite load was reported for 3 populations. The second part of this analysis deals with population dynamics and trophy quality. Table 5 gives population specific characteristics of horns of rams, such as annual growth increments, horn curl diameter and horn spread. Also listed are the percentage of those rams whose horns have the tendency of growing back into the neck or skull; or directly translated, so-called “in-growers”. In Table 4 dressed weights of moufflon sheep of both sexes are given. Great variations exist between different populations in regard to trophy quality. To some extent this difference is caused by differing percentage of rams with “in-growing” horns, referred to above. This characteristic forces the culling of such affected rams, at an early age — an age long before optimum trophy quality is reached. Of 23 populations inspected, only 6 had no rams with this characteristic. In 8 populations 50 % or more of the rams are affected. With few exceptions, the best horn growth characteristics were documented in relatively small, expanding populations, which also exhibited the largest body sizes. The paper concludes with a discussion on the interrelations between population dynamics and population quality.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Qualitative analysis of Capercaillie faeces in a research district in the Northern Vosges Mountains showed a strong preference for Pinus sylvestris and Pinus mugo needles in the winter period and for non-lignified parts of Vaccinium spec. in the summer period. Abies alba needles and buds of the afore-mentioned conifers were also eaten in winter. The widely occurring Picea abies was not used for nutrition. During summer, remnants of the following plants were identified from the faeces. Abies alba, Calluna vulgaris, Fagus silvatica, Luzula silvatica, Pinus sylvestris, Pteridophyta, Sorbus aucuparia, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum. Insect components were found in the faeces of hens during the breeding period and during rearing of the young. Grit was mainly picked up in the first half of September and in early March.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The purpose of this investigation was to find out how the annual kill results in the canton of Thurgovie (Switzerland) from 1932 to 1979 have changed under the influence of air temperature and precipitation. The investigation showed that the influence of weather factors depends on periods of time of varying length and that monthly meteorological values give better results than seasonal ones. Both these aspects must be considered for the kill analysis to be as informative as possible. Within the general climatic conditions, air temperature was of the greatest importance for the abundance dynamics of the field hare from October to December as well as in August and September whereas precipitation played a rather subordinate role in January and September only. The negative influence of mild winters proved to be considerable since such winters encourage the outbreak of Coccidiose and their influence is all the more pronounced the longer the sequence of mild winters lasts. The combination of some specific weather factors allowed the reconstruction of the actual kill development with a high degree of accuracy. The conclusion may therefore be drawn that the marked fluctuations of kill results in the canton of Thurgovie are mainly due to the weather and are not the result of hunting activities, predators, or agricultural methods.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary 60 hares were shot in driven shoots in hunting districts near Bayreuth/Bavaria and their digestive tracts, lungs, and some of the livers were examined for endoparasites. All hares were infested. 96,7 % of them accomodated helminths and in particular 96,5 %Trichostrongylus retoraeformis with an average number of worms of 409, 40,7 %Trichuris leporis (Ø 21), 3,4 % (2 animals) Passalurus ambiguus (Ø 936) and 44,1 % the lungwormProtostrongylus pulmonalis. One hare was infested with the cestodeMosgovoyia pectinata. Graphidium strigosum, Fasciola hepatica andDicrocelium dendriticum could not be found. — 83,1 % of the hares gave out coccidia oocysts. The most frequent species wasEimeria semisculpta (81,4 %), followed byE. leporis (37,3 %),E. europaea (22 %), andE. robertsoni (20,3 %). — Considerable differences in the frequency and intensity of the infestation could not be observed within various groups of hares such as male — female animals, younger — older, in good — poor condition or with bodyweights more — less then 3,6 kg. Only lungworms seemed to be more frequent in older (56,3 %) than in younger animals (28 %) and also in hares with a bodyweight less than 3,6 kg (50 %) compared with those of 3,6 kg and more (36 %). For the treatment of the infestation with endoparasites Fenbendazol (Panacur®) in a dosage of 5 mg/kg bodyweight per animal and day against the roundworms and 2 ml Whitsyn®-S per animal to reduce the giving off of oocysts, both medicaments mixed together with Carosil (100 g per hare and day), were put out to the animals for 5 days. It is supposed that the irregular intake of the medicated feed due to the mild weather is the reason for this experiment in therapy producing no evident success.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The increasing application of programmed exercises in various examination procedures is taken as the occasion to analyse the possibility of introduction of programmed questions within the scope of the written part of hunting examinations. An investigation of the current procedure in the States of the Federal Republic of Germany shows that in six Federal States the written hunting examination is either fully or partly conducted in programmed form, while in five States questions are posed without a choice of answers being provided. Positive and negative comments from the Supreme Hunting Authorities reflect the manifold attitudes on this subject. The article presents fundamental requirements of programmed examinations as well as their main advantages and disadvantages. A critical assessment of programmed exercises shows that their introduction within the scope of the hunting examination seems appropriate because thus at least two parts of the entire examination — the shooting and the written examination — fulfil the criterion of objective measurement of performance. Finally, by way of illustration, examples of programmed hunting examination questions are anexed.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The growth dynamics and morphometry of the horns of mufflon rams from Nordrhine-Westfalia are described and compared with other German and European populations. After 7 to 8 years of age rams have horn lengths of 600 to 900 mm. An influence of latitude of the mufflon habitats is indicated, in that rams from southern populations of the total distribution of this wild sheep species put on more horn growth during their first year of life compared to rams from northern populations and reach already 50 % of the total horn length after 2 years. Rams from more northern populations catch up after the third year and often obtain longer total horn lengths. The trophy quality of rams in Nordrhein-Westfalia varies greatly. The Bielefeld populations exceeds all others, including rams from C.S.S.R., in the horn growth rates during the first years. Other populations, for instance those from the Eifel Mountains, are of poor quality. The horn growth dynamics of these rams resemble those of rams from the Isle of Korsika. “Compensating horn growth”, whereby rams, that show poor initial growth make up for it by above-average horn growth in later years, as has been described for American wild sheep, chamois and ibex, could only be demonstrated for a few populations in Nordrhine-Westfalia. The wear of the horn tip of mufflon rams was investigated. In general, it could be demonstrated that this wear rate exceeds new growth put on at the horn base after the 8th year. Growth in horn circumference increases on the average to the 5th year. After that a decrease was observed, which, however, even in 10-year-old rams, did not amount to more than a 5 % reduction in horn circumference. The number of “adornment rings” of “ripples” per annual growth increment decreases with increasing age. A correlation appears to exist between number of such rings and length of the annual increment. There also appears to be a tendency to produce a certain “density of rings” per increment. On the other hand, no tendency could be demonstrated, to produce a certain number of rings per increment, which could have been correlated with “moon phases” or months. The term “monthly ring” instead of “adornment ring” is therefore rejected. The influence of sex glands on horn growth is discussed. An example is given, where a horn grew into the eye of a ram.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary A description is given (for the first time) of an anomaly in the central nervous system of an European lynx: the anomaly falls into the category of hydromely. The anomaly was present at birth and at least in reserves was not lethal. Nothing speaks contrary to the fact that ethiological influences play a rôle, similar to genetical influences in other animals (dogs, cattle).

Description / Table of Contents: Summary A microscopic method for botanical analysis of stomach content of hare is described. This method enables the identification of feed plants even to the species of plant.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Based on studies of 100 north-west German game-preserves, a relationship between the relative abundance of the hare (Lepus europaeus) and the types of countryside and the ways in which they are utilized was established. For 98% of the game-preserves the EDV-analysis provides a satisfactory explanation for the possible reasons for the size of the relative abundance. The positive significance of wintergrains, hay-grazing meadows and of the seasonal attractiveness of the habitat provided by edges of bordering woodland (Saumhabitat) became especially apparent. It was determined that no single factor alone influenced the hare, but that the result of the combination of several factors did. This was achieved by subjecting the results to Rotated Analysis (Equimax) which emphasized and clearly divided the favourable and the unfavourable from intensive and extensive utilization of the areas. With the help of the correlation analysis it can be finally pointed out that very large monocultures must be disadvantageous for the hare. Especially in countryside where farming is predominantly mechanised the hare relies on “Saumhabitat” during the “famine periods” caused by harvesting.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary This is a report on the diploid set of chromosomes in the capercaillie. The capercaillie has 18 macrochromosomes: 2 of these are sex chromosomes, and an as yet uncertain number of micro-chromosomes. It is unfortunately unpossible at the moment to gather information for necessary population cytogenetic investigations, since the species has practically died out in Germany.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Experiments were carried out in two periods on the worm infestation of roe deer. In both experimental periods, 4 non-infected roe deer were used as control animals. In the first experimental period, 4 worm-free roe deer were infected 4 times at 8–9 week intervals with 70.000 infections stomach/intestinal worm larvae. The infections caught on in every case, as shown clearly by egg excretion, decrease in the haematocrite and increase in the numbers of leukocites (white blood corpuscles) in the blood. Body weight, antler formation and general condition remained unaffected. Examination of the serum proteins with the carrier electrophoresis and the two-dimensional immune electrophoresis showed that no acut phase reactions occured with this subclinical worm infestation, but that humoral immune reactions (increase of gamma globulin) were activated. In the second experimental period, 4 worm-free roe deer, as well as an „immunized“ buck of the first series of experiments, each received 126.000 stomach/intestinal worm larvae and 24 days later 12.000 lungworms (D. viviparus) each. All the animals became seriously ill, two with acute illness and 3 with chronic illness. Three animals died; the other two could only be saved by anthelmintic treatment. The illness led to an exaggerated disproteinaemia, from which neither a particular age of the roe deer nor the one-year “immunisation” of the first experimental period gave protection.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Nitrogen (N) balance studies were performed with adult roe bucks in metabolism cages. The animals were fed pelleted diets. To a basic ration with 5.6% crude protein (CP) varving amounts of purified protein were added, raising the crude protein content up to 21.8% of the food dry matter. The N losses via the faeces were 6.1 g/kg of dry matter intake. At body weight equilibrium 94.5% of the apparently digested N were recovered in the urine. With the basic ration the urinary N excretion was down to 0.12 g/day/kg body weight0.75. Even with this diet, part of the animals achieved a positive N balance and raised the body weigh. A calculation of the requirements for maintenance of a roe deer of 20 kg body weight results in 7.5 g apparently digestible CP. With the experimental diet, this was equivalent to 24.3 g CP/day in the food or 5.5% CP in the food dry matter. These requirements are lower than those assumed for roe deer up to now, but are in good accordance with those known for domestic ruminants.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary From 1967 until 1973 in the Julian Alps of Slovenia 78 female chamois of various ages were examined for pregnancy. Of these 69 so-calledyeld females (those with no calves) were harvested as usual, while 9 females with calves were shot especially for the study. Both groups revealed a gravidity of 80%, based on all females in the third to 18th year of life. Some females in the third year of life were found to be pregnant, compared with nearly half of those in the fourth year of life. In middle-age females (4–10 years) gravidity was 90%, and 83% in older animals. 8% more corpora lutea were found in the ovaries than the number of embryos. Several such cases were examples of accessory forms, which means that double ovulation had occurred.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The results of studies of partridge in aviaries from 1968 to 1973 are reported. These results indicate that seeds are the only feasible winter fodder. Green feed is not necessary, as a rule. Seeds of the following plants were preferred by partridge:Ph. canariensis, Panicum sp.,Setaria sp.,Cannabis sativa, Phleum pratense, Lolium perenne, Agrostis alba gemcina. Seeds of the following wild herbs were infrequently selected:Atriplex sp.,Plantago sp.,Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum lapathifolium andRumex sp.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary In the winter of 1972/73 the rank-order of individually marked roe deer at an artificial feeding site was studied in the foothills of eastern Switzerland. The observed rank-order was almost linear and more or less stable throughout the winter. The only drops in rank were caused by casting of antlers and impairment through injury, whereas cleaning of antlers raised a buck's rank. Adult bucks dominated all other classes, and male fawns dominated almost all females The effects of age, antler size, distance from summer territory, and duration of stay in the feeding site area on rank were tested by rank correlations. In adult bucks, only distance from summer territory affected rank significantly, bucks from the vicinity being the most dominant. This result and the fact that the dominant bucks, who alone showed marking behaviour, were the most aggressive, suggest that roebucks are potentially territorial also in winter. Does were the higher in rank the earlier they were first observed visiting the feeding site, i.e. the more familiar they were with it. The rank of females was not affected by age. Occupied piles of food were sometimes successfully defended against higher ranking individuals.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary During the years 1970 to 1973 we investigated 800 samples of organs, adipose tissue and eggs from 26 wild animals species gaschromatically in respect of chlorinated pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls. The most abundant pesticides were HCB and Lindane + Isomeres (Tab. 1). The pesticide- and PCB-concentrations in liver- and fat tissue of herbivores were about five times lower (ppb-values) than we found in carnivores, where the residues accumulated according to the nutrition chain (Tab. 2 and 3). The highest values we got from eggs of predatory birds and from codfish liver (ppm-values Tab. 2 and 3; for instance DDE and DDT + isomeres).

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Two methods for estimating age were applied on 1655 red foxes (871 males, 591 females and 193 of undetermined sex), 290 of which were found to be rabid. The first method uses age of teeth (cutting, shedding and attrition) as an indication to the age of the animal. The second (developed byvan Haaften [1969]) involved the dry weight of eye lenses. A comparison of the methods revealed that both were equally reliable for animals up to the age of two years. Neither method proved to be satisfactory for estimating age in adult animals, although the dry weight method seems to be the more informative one. The range in the dry weight of eye lenses is shown in table 5 for animals from 2 months to 2 years in graph 1 for animals up to 8 years. Graph 2 illustrates the relationship between age, dry weight of eye lens, and age of teeth.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Organs of six chamois originating from two subalpine areas in Switzerland were examined. 18 different species of nematodes were found in the digestive tract (namelyTrichostrongylus axei, Ostertagia circumcincta, O. leptospicularis, O. trifurcata, Marshallagia marshalli, Skrjabinagia kolchida, S. lyrata, Rinadia mathevossiani, Spiculopteragia böhmi, Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus capricola, Cooperia oncophora, Nematodirus filicollis, N. helvetianus, Trichuris ovis, Oesophagostomum venulosum andChabertia ovina) and two additional species in the lungs (Protostrongylus rupicaprae andMuellerius capillaris). Two out of five animals examined were infected withEimeria spp. and three out of four animals withSarcocystis sp. The examination of 213 lungs of chamois from the cantons of Appenzell-Innerrhoden, Schwyz and Lucerne revealed 114 cases of protostrongylidoses due toProtostrongylus rupicaprae andNeostrongylus linearis and one case of dictyocaulosis. It is assumed that the trichostrongylid fauna of the chamois overlaps to a considerable extent with that of domestic ruminants, roe deer and red deer.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Between the years 1970 and 1972 58 Swiss chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra L.) from the Jura mountains were studied for parasites. They were collected within the region Waldenburg — Olten — western Weißenstein (canton Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn) and in the Chasseral (canton Berne). Originally they had been transferred from the Swiss Alps to the Jura, where they were acclimatized. The following endoparasites were found: 3 lungworms, 8 gastro-intestinal nematodes (in some cases the species was not identified), 1 trematode, 2 cestodes and coccidia. The extensity and intensity of the species found were compared with two studies from Austria, and, in the case of lungworms, with a Swiss and a German report as well. Parasitic intensity and extensity seem less in the Bernese than in the Basel-Land and Solothurn Jura mountains. But in the entire Jura they are found to a lesser extent than in the reported regions of the Alps; sometimes this difference is very clear (exception:Protostrongylus in the cantons Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn). From the limited parasitic intensity and the low death rate among the Jura chamois it can be concluded that the Jura mountains are a favourable environment for these animals; there seems to be no overpopulation effect. The limited parasitic extensity as well suggests that the chamois population is not too dense; in addition the biotope appears unfavourable for the free-living stages of the parasites and the influence of a contact between chamois and domestic animals unimportant. The range of species found on this study was as to be expected.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Papillomatosis was found in the praeputium of a male Fallow-deer.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary A case of maceration of a fetus in the vagina of roe deer is reported.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The formation of a bone case on the right half of a roe deer cranium is described, which is probably the result of a slow growing tumour.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Amongst 4 of 488 Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.) from the Canton of Berne (Switzerland), 5 Premolars with a third lateral root have been found (4 times in P2, 1 time in P4). Time and place of killing point to a genetic connection. Ecological aspects are discussed.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Two unusual finds ofGoniodes sp. are described in the present paper. In the first capercaillie cook, 8 specimens ofGoniodes sp. were found within the quill cavity of the 10th primary just moulted (Fig. 1, 2). A facultative occurrence of the respective Mallophaga in such an uncommon milieu follows from the finds of its excrements and of the damaged interior of the quill. Bloody remains of mesodermal tissue filling the cavity of quills in two middle rectrices and in one secondary respectively were found on another cock shot not far from the place of the foregoing observation. In this latter case, a blood consumation byGoniodes sp. is presumed in some of living larvae as well as of adults according to the colour of their intestine (Fig. 3, 4).

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Three cases of anomalies of the skull in a 12 month old female roe deer are described and illustrated by two photographs: 1. Retardation of the linear expansion of the ossa nasalia; 2. Hypertrophy of the tubera frontalia; 3. Malformation of the rami mandibularum and their processi coronoidei.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The similarity of antler form, which can repeat itself for decades in a small region, is illustrated with the help of 4 photographs.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Three measurements were taken on each of 25 lower jaws of hare to estimate the possible interdependence in growth in length of the jaw, the tooth, and in width of the oral cavity. The date were not sufficient to establish clearly an age dependence, but a high probability points in this direction. This work will hopefully instigate further collection of data to enable age-estimation with the aid of age-dependent growth factors.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The results are presented in a survey of peeling by mouflon in spruce stands in the former mouflon research district Padberg, county of Hochsauerland, of the Research Station for Hunting Lore and Wildlife Damage Prevention. Observations were made from 1958 to 1970. Peeling in winter reached a peak in the extreme winter of 1962/63 when 8% of the trees were peeled. Summer peeling was considerably less, usually about 10% of the total peeling. Based on total peeling, root peeling was about 15% to 25% in winter, while the value for the dry summer of 1959 was 60%, based on the summer peeling per trunk. Mouflon peeled spruce stands over 30 years old more than those under 30. Further, little peeling of beech by Mouflon was proven. Of the tested anti-peeling preparations, chemical ones were effective on beech and spruce and mechanical protection in the form of a dry band for spruce. The protection was effective over a period of five or more years. The mechanical-biological protection, a sort of smoothing, reduced peeling up to 80% and more, compared to untreated trees, as far as the experiments are evaluated in which unprotected trees were peeled 3% and more. One stand of spruce, 18 years old, was badly damaged by the Flammigersche protective method; 12 trees died. The smoothing method caused only minor bark damage, which can be tolerated since this method is quite inexpensive.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary By “single food diet” is meant a mixture which contains all the nutritive substances, minerals and vitamins required for body mainternance and growth, with a balanced proportion of energy units. Especially for the feeding of ruminant cloven-hoofed game animals, such a food has great nutritional and physiological advantages over a conventional concentrate of other foods such as cereals, beet, hay or straw since all the components are taken simultaneously by the game animal. In this way it is possible to avoid an unbalanced food intake which, in the case of ruminants, may easily lead to damage to the rumen flora and may therefore be an important cause of illness. Silages have proved themselves to be particularly good in the feeding of ruminant cloven-hoofed game animals. In what is by now an 8-year study in three forest administrative areas of the north-west Eifel, a single food silage has been introduced and tested. Apple cores, sugar beet leaves, minerals and vitamins form the basic components along with hay or straw. Production is made easier with a power food chopper. A structured feed like this is ideal for ruminants; it is readily eaten by the animals and ad-lib intake meets maintenance needs. Costs are in the region of 90 to 100 DM per 1000 kg. In order to cut the daily production costs, 29 self-feeder troughs have so far been set up successfully; through these a permanent supply of food is available to the animals. These troughs have the advantage that failures in the food supply do not occur.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary A report is made about a case of polymelie (pygomelie) in red fox. The malformation is illustrated with photographs, an X-ray, and a reconstructed skeleton. The additional appendage begins at the pelvis; the bones, often greatly reduced, are described. Mention is made of the occurrence of accessory extremities at the same place in man, cattle and roe deer. The causes of the polymelie are not known.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The paper presents the findings of a study by the district veterinary office in Kleve, which deals with geese losses on the Lower Rhine in N. Rhine Westphalia in connection with a winter thunderstorm. The report suggests lightning strikes, damage by hail, collision with aircraft (bird strikes), and the effects of pressure differences in nose diving from flying at high altitudes as possible causes of death.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The authors have studied the pathogenicity of the Filariosis of the skin, which is very frequent in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) from different hunting districts of the SR of Slovenia, Yugoslavia. Specific nodules varying from about the size of a pea to a nut are associated withOnchocerca flexuosa Wedl 1856. This filaria worm occurs in the subcutaneous tissue. The parasites lie coiled up in sterile abcesses, which exhibit a rise in the connective tissue and firm fibrotic reaction. Inside the nodules at various points are apparent small sinusoid cavities and numerous eosinophils and other blood cells may occur in the connective tissue. Using histological techniques, it is very easy to differentiate those nodules from the nodules in early stages, associated with Hypodermosis of the red deer.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary In the first part of the study the results are reported of an examination for endoparasites of 52 European hares, which come from three contiguous districts in Lower Saxony (Helmstedt county). The hares were shot on hunting drives in December of 1974. Two entrails (3.8%) were free of worms; 71.2% were infested withTrichostrongylus retortaeformis and 59.6% withTrichuris leporis. No animal was found withGraphidium strigosum. In the average case, the infestation byTrichostrongylus retortaeformis was 50% higher in females than in males, while the infestation byTrichuris leporis was approximately the same for both sexes. The average body weight of examined males was 3.642 kg, and of females, 3.808 kg. The second part of the study consisted of a comparison of the results of several endoparasitological studies on hares. Of particular interest are the range and intensity of intestinal helminths in connection with climate and soil quality of the study areas. The pathology of the helminths and their effect on body weight is discussed.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Blood serum electrophoresis (short time electrophoresis using cellulose acetate films) exhibits characteristic species differences in the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). In all species examined remarkable variations of serum protein components were observed. These variations might be due to the age-dependent decrease of the albumin-fraction and to the simultaneous increase of the γ-globulin-fraction. The age-dependent shift of the albumin/globulin ratio to higher globulin fraction values is a well-known feature in domestic ruminant species. However, the reported values might have been distorted by other factors (e.g. type of electrophoretic method, blood sampling procedure, possible infections in the animals tested). Immunoelectrophoretical methods should be able to overcome these distorting influences.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary In this study, measurements were carried out on the weight and capacity of the digestive system of 80 roe deer, 16 fallow deer and 19 mouflon. The percentage of the digestive tract compared to the body weight was slightly smaller in roe deer than in fallow deer, while the mouflon showed the highest values. The variations in the weight proportions of the stomachs as against the intestines from 1.7∶1 in the case of roe, to 2.2∶1 in fallow and to 3∶1 in mouflon were above all caused by differences of the filled ruminoreticulum. The maximum volume of the ruminoreticulum differed between 22 Liter/100 kg body weight in roe deer and 33 in the mouflon. This small capacity of the rumen of roe deer was also filled with the lowest amount of digesta compared to the other species. These data support the opinion that roe deer belong to the browsers, mouflon to the grazers while fallow deer tend to be an intermediate feeding type.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary On the basis of a survey of estimated game losses following the introduction of farm machinery in 36 district hunting areas in North Rhine Westphalia, the losses amongst roe, hare, wild rabbit, pheasant and partridge are particularised. Alongside the absolute figures, the mechanisation data are analysed against the annual bag of the individual animal species and the different agricultural acreages. By N. Rhine Westphalian standards, feathered game were found to be the hardest hit (pheasant and partridge along with their offsring formed about 22% of the annual bag), followed by hare (14.5%), roe (13.5%) and rabbit (only 1.1%). After conversion to put the figures on a comparable basis, the results correspond on the whole quite well, and in some respects very well, with those of an earlier inquiry by the Deutscher Jagdschutz-Verband made on a much smaller area. Nevertheless, these uncorrected estimates should be accepted only with reservations, especially because of possible psychological stress in the people who were questioned.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary There is a report of a congenital combined tooth and bite anomaly in the form of an undifferentiated fourth molar in the left lower jaw of a fallow deer stag, and the appearance of beads of enamel on the M3 sin. inf. Two photographs illustrate the malformations.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The central feature of the paper is the development of the study of game in Jugoslavia. Alongside this is given a short résumé of game study activities during the same period in Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The paper traces the links between the hunting organisation and the game research in Germany. It was the „Allgemeiner Deutscher Jagdschutzverein“ which ensured the introduction of research into game-tagging in 1904. The majority of the members of the „Gesellschaft für Jagdkunde“, founded in 1919, were members of the many hunting associations. In 1934, the „Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft“ took over the „Institut für Jagdkunde“ in Berlin which had been founded in 1911. The State hunting association of North-Rhine Westphalia ran its own research establishment after 1950, as did that of Schleswig-Holstein after 1953. Prof.Nüsslein is considered to have been the central figure in the study of game in Germany since the International Union of Game Biologists was established in 1954.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The paper reports on the work of the Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Studies („Jagdkunde“) in the University of Göttingen since 1945. Prof.Fritz Nüsslein was from 1947 to 1952 principal lecturer and director of the Institute for Game Studies, as it then was, and from 1953 to 1967 he was senior professor. In 1973 the professorship was recast, after the name of the institute had been broadened in 1971 into “Wildlife Research and Game Studies”. In 1976 it was renamed “The Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Studies”. The article presents the current teaching programme, including a compulsory 2-semester unit of four hours per week for wildlife biology and game studies, and the current research programmes which are concerned with indigenous hoofed animals, indigenous predators, hares and rodents, indigenous birds, ecosystem research, tropical research, the protection of wild animals, wildlife pathology, parasitology and the study of fisheries and hydrology. Further, reference is made to the services of the Institute (inter alia extensive age-estimates and investigations of dead game animals) and its collaboration with official organisations.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary As a result of the administration of Testosteron and subsequent traumatisation, four male red deer which were castrated before or at puberty, developed antlers. During the autumn-winter period, Testosteron, Oestradiol or Progesteron were administered to the animals in order to induce cleaning. After the hormone treatment ceased, the antlers were shed in spring, whereupon the next period of antler growth began. The research showed that the effect of Progesteron on the antler cycle is similar to that of Testosteron, though Progesteron is at least 2–3 times less effective. In two cases antlers were generated without producing a trauma. These antlers did not develop in the normal way but grew bent over downwards, and in one case a pendulous beam developed.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is still very strictly protected in South West Africa/Namibia. There has even been a clear increase in cheetah numbers in farming areas over recent years. Causes of this are the general increase in game populations, the more favourable opportunities for capture as a result of farm husbandry measures, the diminishing competition from enemies, the reduced pressure of hunting and the more limited disturbance of their areas. Cheetah can do considerable damage to game and livestock. This has forced the farmers to hunt the cheetah. Capture by box trap at the play tree has proved to be particularly successful in the sense of skinning off the surplus population whilst at the same time being the best method of conserving the stock. By selling live cheetahs and cheetah skins, the farmers, prior to the Washington accord on protection of species coming into force, could balance out or outweigh the losses they suffered trough cheetah, so that they had a financial interest in the conservation of the species. The situation which has developed from the Washington accord on preservation of species gives rise to a fear that the repercussions may destroy the population. That is why ways must be sought to interest the farmers in future management by the conservation and effective hunting of cheetah.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary This report deals with the residue-levels of heavy-metals in chamois of the Zillertal, Austria. The authors examined muscles and kidneys in order to discover the lead, mercury and cadmium content. The concentrations found in the muscles are of about the same level as for animals sent for slaughter, whereas the levels in the kidneys are higher. The lead content of kidneys relative to the age of the animals and seasonal variations of the lead-and mercury-concentrations are discussed.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The study used a data base of 17 380 red deer calves and yearlings shot during 17 hunting seasons to investigate the mean growth development between August and January. Some statistical difficulties in analysing this kind of data are discussed. A second-order polynominal model was used to describe the relationship between body weight and date of kill. The deer were divided into four groups according to age and sex, and for each group the unknown parameters were estimated by the least square regression method. A similar model equation was derived for each of the 17 hunting seasons. The mean body weight on December 1st as predicted by these equations was used to show the correlation between body weight and population density as derived from the careful recording of the game management. According to these results, the increase in body weight was of the magnitude of one kilogram for a reduction of the population density by one animal per 100 hectares.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Two cases of lead poisoning by shot in waterfowl(C. cygnus, Bucephala clangula) are reported from Schleswig-Holstein, North Germany.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary At 3-weekly intervals over a period of 13 months, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 8 male and 8 female roe deer kept in research enclosures, so that the total of thyroxin (T4 D), T3 U and ureal nitrogen could be established. Once a week the level of activity of the metatarsal glands was recorded by observation. The thyroid gland hormone levels were not dependent upon sex but were higher in the second and third years than in calves (9–17 months). Seasonal differences were observed in the form of higher proportions of T4 in winter, April/May and July. The index free thyroid gland hormone showed no significant seasonal alterations. There is no obvious daily rhythm. No clear relationship between thyroxin content in the blood and activity of the metatarsal glands was discovered. Two-fold high doses of thyroxin did not stimulate production of pheromon noticeably. The level of urea in the blood is somewhat higher in young roe deer than in adults. The level falls in winter and reaches a maximum in summer after the rut. The urea content of blood is inversely correlated to the concentration of thyroxin — it falls as the thyroxin content of the blood rises.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary 1. Inquiries made in Lower Austria during two consecutive breeding periods and on two fixed days between (November, January) provided data about disperion pattern and breeding success of the Common Buzzard in different landscapes on a basis of average (1977) and high (1978) density of the Common Vole. 2. During all seasons the local population density is determined by the distribution of woods and open countryside and by the density of the Common Vole. In sparesly wooded areas woods can be densely populated by relatively many breeding-pairs, but their number is limited by the prevailing density of the Common Vole which has an influence on the extent of the Buzzard's individual cruising radius. In woodland habitats the presence of the Common Buzzard depends on the availability of suitably large open areas sufficiently rich in prey. During winter, the snow cover can cause the population to fluctuate, although the influence of the habitat on the local population density continues even during these periods. 3. The siting of eyries affects the difficulty of procuring prey. A poor supply of prey necessitates the eyrie being built near the edge of the woodland. 4. Eyries near the edge of the woodland and eyries in deciduous trees seem to be unfavourable for buzzards breeding early in the year. Microclimatic circumstances could play a role in this. 5. Breeding succes is determined by the efficiency of procuring food and the place of the eyrie with regard to the cruising radius. 6. The population of Common Buzzard which was studied is functioning successfully as regards self-regulation.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary A six-years-old asparagus bed was partially cleared of weeds and the development of the yield in the following year was traced. Even the highest level of damage (cutting back 40 cm each week) brought about no loss in comparison with the control (weeds up to 230 cm high). More stems were formed, with a lower individual weight.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The skull of a one-year-old knobber with a short jaw was compared with a normal skull. Thereby it was found that the bones of the front skull (os lacrimale, os incisivum, os nasale and os maxillare) were much too small. The brain-case had roughly the normal dimensions.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary From 1976 to 1979, 150 stomach/intestinal tracts and 250 faeces of raccoon (Procyon lotor [L.]) from North-Hessen and adjoining areas of North-Rhine Westphalia were examined on the basis of their food content. In each case, approximately one third of the food components were vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. Seasonal differences in the prey material can be detected.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The author describes a set of elk antlers unearthed in 1928 5 km north-west of Trzemeszno within the boundary of the village of Łukaszewko in Poland. According to the formula of the International Hunting Council for Game Preservation (Conseil International de la Chasse), 478.3 points should be awarded: according to that of the Boone and Crockett Club, 217 2/8 points. The head is compared with the best trophies from European, Asian and American elk.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The paper describes a roe buck (Capreolus capreolus L.) with “peruque” antlers of unusual dimensions. The skull with antlers weighed 6,070 gr. in the natural state and 2,020 gr. after drying.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Experiments were made to study the age determination in wildlife, particularly in the roe(Capreolus capreolus L.) with the aid of experimental gerontology methods. The results obtained were correlated with those achieved by conventional age determination (external marks of the teeth, serial layers of cementum of the teeth and dry-weight of the eye lens). The results of most experiments reflect changes in the stabilisation of collagen fibres and collagen cross linking. The following tissues were studied: ear cartilage, ear skin and flexor tendon. Alteration of the solubility of collagen in neutral salt and citrate buffer: Solubility was studied with collagen from skin and cartilage. The decrease corresponded well with the different ages of donor animals. Differential thermal analysis was done with skin and cartilage: Denaturing temperature increased by 9–10° Kelvin with increasing age for skin and cartilage. Test of the tensile strenghth with flexor tendon revealed significant differences between tendons derived from animals with different ages. It increased constantly with age.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary In a wild boar enclosure in Austria, one individual several years old was observed smell marking and defending food. Apples were smell marked with urine and saliva. Young animals did not eat this food after having tested it by sniffing, although the marking ♂ did. The wild boar defended his feeding ground against men. In the process, he showed in a weaker or ritualised form behavioural patterns from the innate characteristics of parading, threatening and fighting. In addition, there is a report of an old boar in which acoustic impulses (the noises of a food container being used by another boar) triggered off a demonstration of rank and appropriation at the feeding ground. This trigger was more forceful than „avoidance of the enemy“. Mention is made of a case of imitation and learning in the overcoming of an obstacle.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Pathological-anatomical examination of dead new-born seals in the Elbe estuary established that the seal foetus swallows some of the embryonic hair (Lanugo) disposed of within the uterus before birth. These swallowed hairs contribute to the first faeces or meconium. In this connection, the causes of intestinal blockade are discussed with regard to environmental disturbances in the seal nurseries.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary From a fallow enclosure of over 20 hectares stocked with 40 animals (bucks, adult and 2-year-old does, fawns), 10 were to be removed either for transfer to other enclosures or for sale. The escape distance of the animals was so great that the task in hand could not be achieved by means of an airgun or compressed air rifle (reliable ranges 15 and 30 m respectively). With the administering of Diazepam by mouth, the escape distance could be reduced to 10 – 20 m, and sometimes less, so that a Xylazin-Ketamin mixture designed to immobilise could be used without difficulty. The general difficulties of oral medication and its effects were described in detail as well as unforeseen incidents. It was established that a dose of 30 – 40 mg Diazepam per kg of live-weight was sufficient for the required sedation.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary 399 serum samples collected from native cloven-hoofed game were investigated by means of agglutinating-lysis reaction for antibodies against leptospirosis. Antibodies were found in 1,8 % of 169 sera from roe deer(Capreolus capreolus), in 2,1 % of 96 sera from red deer(Cervus elaphus) and in 18,6 % of sera from wild boars(Sus scrofa) in a serum dilution of 1:400 and higher. In 5,7 % of sera from 35 fallow deer(Dama dama) were only found suspicious titers (1:200). In 29 sera of mouflon(Ovis musimon) antibodies against leptospirosis were not detected. The most reactions were found againstL. icterohaemorrhagiae (31,7 %),L. ballum (17,1 %) andL. grippotyphosa (12,2 %). The significance of the serological findings is discussed.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The suspicion of a formation of a double rose in a roe head from the Minden-Lübbecke District in Nordrhein-Westfalen is taken as the occasion to discuss the phenomenom of double rose formation as described in the literature. The bulkiness and disorganised growth of the rose is seen as the chief characteristic of the head from the Minden-Lübbecke District. The cause of the malformation similar to a double rose is taken to be a disturbance of the hormones which affected the rose formation and then later faded away, so that the head was able to mature and be frayed largely in the normal way.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary A full translation of Y Naw Helwriaeth is presented for the first time in German, and the contents, sources and significance of this old Welsh hunting code are discussed in detail. Y Naw Helwriaeth is a unique conflation of old Welsh, Anglo-Norman and Middle English sources, which was compiled in the mid sixteenth century byGruffudd Hiraethog.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Rye, barley, potatoes, turnips and maize were cut back with scissors, by one-third and two-third to simulate browsing by game; in each case all plants in a plot were cut back by 30 % and 60 % respectively. In addition, the pulling-out of the plants by game was simulated, at rates of 80 %, 40 % and 20 %. Generally, in all cultivated plants, there were significant reductions of yield, almost exclusively in those plots in which 80 % of the plants had been removed. An influence on the ability of the plants to recover is exercised by the weather of the year and the timing of the damage. Analyses of the structure of the cereal crops showed that the influence on the stand density of the crop is greater than on the number of the heads per are or on the weight of 1000 heads.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary A report is given on the occurrence of feral farm minks escaped from farms in Schleswig-Holstein. 230 captures, killings and sightings have been recorded since 1950. It is uncertain if there are already existing self-sustaining populations.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Court hunting in the Dukedom of Westfalia in the time of the Electors of the House of Wittelsbach (1583–1761) required a large number of dogs talented and well-trained in many respects. Insofar as these were controlled by the staff of the Westfalian hunting office, the Electoral Oberkellner office in Arnsberg covered the maintenance of the pack. The costs amounted to around 3000 Reichstaler per year. In the course of the development of full state sovereignty, “dog-service” was introduced, involving around 90 farms, each of which either had to take and care for one of the Elector's dogs without payment or otherwise had to pay “dog-money” of 1 Reichstaler a year. Apart from farmers, the executioners and the bailiffs and several monasteries were also obliged to do “dog-service”, which in general was fulfilled by cash payments. The executioners paid 64 Reichstaler and the monasteries 252 Reichstaler a year. A particular form of “dog-service” was the dog-loan. Farmers and burghers were arbitrarily forced under threat of penalties to lend their dogs, insofar as they were suitable, to the hunts organized by the Elector or by the hunting office, without payment. Sporadic opposition to the “dog-service” had no success. It was only lifted, with all the other hunting burdens by a law, the Prussian Diocharge Act (Ablösungsgesetz) in 1850.