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 The hunting-science has rounded off itself in the course of the last about 50 years from the junction of its natural and intellectual scientific foundations under joining of the technical, economical and political factors, concerning hunting. There are represented its knowledge got thereby, as well as the problems due for the near future, the difficulties and possibilities in organizing, personal and real consideration.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary On the same hunting ground on 100 ha area had been killed 15 hares by driving them towards the shooters and 24 hares by circular beats. The bag on young hares has been the same in either hunting-manner, whereas more old ones escaped the kill by driving the hares towards the shooters.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary The growth of horns of the first three years is decisive for the size of the ripe trophy; from this reason the form of the horns during youth is especialy fit to draw from it conclusions as to the quality of the ripeness-form of the horns. The first two classes of age being to be recognized with security with regard to their age, the shooting off according the size of horns in the class of the yearlings and two years old ones, should be furthered. For this purpose there are given directions, according to the local experiences, for the distinction of males to be shot off and those promising for the time to come, within these two classes of age.

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: Résumé Du territoire de Salzbourg (Tauern) on a pû constater que le vautour fauve (Gyps fulvus fulvus) soit devenu un oiseau d'été qui revient régulièrement. La limite inférieure de diffusion d'altitude est rapportée à 1000 m NN. Le nombre, annuel des vautours habitant ce territoire de Mai à September (en moyen 200 vautours d'oie) dépend directement du temps de départs des moutons pour les Alpes et du nombre départi. Les vautours fauve n'airent pas dans les Alpes de Salzbourg, ils viennent des Balkans après la couvaison au mois de Février. Les gypaètes barbus sont par contre devenus depuis 25 ans oiseaux de demeure dans ce territoire.

Description / Table of Contents: Résumé L'apparition de la gale des chamols s'est accrue d'une telle façon qu'on ne peut plus computer sur son extirpation complet. On peut seulement essayer d'empecher qu'elle ne se répande pas plus loin ou que des foyers de contagion neuf se forment. On a proposé d'installer un bureau central pour l'Autriche, la Bavière, la Suisse, l'Italie et la Yougoslavie et de rendre de rigueur la notification de l'apparition, de la gale de chamois aux autres pays.

Description / Table of Contents: Résumé Depuis 1946 on a fait des recherches relatives au menu gibier le plus important de la Pologne le lièvre de champs (lepus europ. Pall.) dans les districts gouvernementaux de Gdansk et de Bydgoszcz à l'aide des butins de la chasse aux lièvres et au lièvres vivant. L'index moyen de rendement (lièvres tués sur 100 ha) est entre 15 et 50 pièces par 100 ha. La proportion moyenne entre hases et lièvres est de 50,7% ♂ et 49,3% ♀. Le poids moyen de 1404 lièvres tués en 1953 était de 4,2 kos, le poids maximal est 5 kos. Quoique l'été fût assez sec et qu'on suppose que la réproductibilité d'une paire de lièvres soit de 10 jeunes lièvres, on a pû constater par une hase tuée seulement 0,54 jeune lièrre. Il fut pour le moment impossible de trouver une raison objective pour cette proportion très base. Pour les autres parts de la Pologne l'année 1953 était une année de lièvres très mauvaise, et seulement les districts du Nord avaient une population satisfaisante. La part de la venaison par lièvre est en moyen 35,4% par poids moyen de 4,1 kos. La viande très maigre du lièvre contient 0,2% de graisse mais par contre approximativement 25% d'albumine.

Description / Table of Contents: Résumé L'eploration de la science de chasse est malheureusement peu soutenue par les gens de profession. Les appels faits en vue de recevoir le matériel nécessaire aux recherches, ont eu trés peu de succès. L'exploration doit de ce fait essayer d'avoir à sa disposition cantons d'essai, grilles et enclos pour pouvoir s'occuper sur une plus large échelle des bêtes vivantes. Cependant, il ne faut pas s'attendre d'avoir sous peu des résultats.

Description / Table of Contents: Résumé La science de chasse a subi pendant le dernier siècle un tel élargissement et une telle consolidation, qu'il y faut maintenant apporter un examen, un ordre et une élimination. La manière d'envisager les faits varie selon les besoins et est différente s'il s'agit d'établir un exposé pour l'enseignement par exemple, ou d'établir la structure d'une matière bibliographique, ou de donner la description logique et mentale d'une continuité des problèmes.

Description / Table of Contents: Résumé L'Union des Chasseurs Suèdois fondée il y a 100 ans a entamée pour la primière fois l'exploration du gibier en Suède. Ce fut cependant la Loi de Chasse de 1938 qui a rendu possible la création d'une organisation plus solide, ayant à sa disposition des moyens suffisants. Après un développement de plusieurs années le Gouvernement Suèdois vient d'installer cette année un Conseil indépendant pour l'exploration du gibier. Ce Conseil a les buts suivants: Suivre de près sur son domaine d'activité au développement tant à l'intérieur du pays qu'à l'extérieur. Créer une collaboration entre les diverses Organisations d'exploration et avoir soins d'éléver l'efficacité des recherches. Le Conseil doit soutenir en outre l'initiative importante de chaque Organisation pour l'exploration du gibier et au besoin saisir lui-même l'initiative pour encourager une telle exploratation. L'exploratation du gibier a lieu maintenant principalement à l'Université d'Economie Forestière à Stockholm sous la direction de M. le ProfesseurNotini et à l'Institut National vétérinaire de M. le Docteur med. vet.Borg. Certaines explorations pratiques seront l'objet des recherches faites par l'aide de champ de l'Union des Chasseurs,M. Nils Höglund.

Description / Table of Contents: Résumé Les interprétations données parM. Beninde sur les différences dans le poids des fauves ne sont pas satisfaisantes. On a surtout pas assez pris en considération les facteurs concernant la paisson. En 33 administrations de cantons on vient de vérifier les rélations entre le poids moyen des fauves et celles des conditions dans les cantons, la qualité de populations était entre 51,7 et 72,8 kos. Il était impossible d'établir une rélation quelconque entre les conditions de vie dans le canton et le poids de la venaison. Il était en particulier impossible de reconnaitre une influence exercé par le climat. De ces recherches on doit conclure, que les différences des mésures corporelles dépendent des dispositions de la race. La profusion des fauves, d'abord ferme, s'est relâcher en ilots isolés. Par l'abattement sans plan, une diminution des allèles dans ces groupes isolées a eu lieu, qui a amené une formation des différences raciales. Il en suit pour le pratique que, lièrement la qualité de l'état du gibier peur être seulement corrigé dans une mésure limitée par l'amélioration du paisson et 2ièmement, qu'on peut seulement avoir un succès par l'élimination, s'il y a encore des bonnes qualités héréditaire et que, 3ièmement il faut amener les bêtes ayant ces qualités héréditaire requises, si la population en est dépourvu.

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 The first scientific prove of the occurrence of the louse of the wild boar (Haematopinus apri Goureau) in Germany was established in 1942. The auther investigates the occurence, development, nourishment, expressions of life, contagion, and the extent of seizure.

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 Shooting Law in vigour within the Federal Republic is based upon the so-called districtsystem; there are 2 kinds of hunting territories, the hunting district of owners and the common hunting district. For each of these 2 kinds minimum sizes are required, 75 resp. 150 ha. The shooting district is the unit of management. It is investigated if the size of the management unit corresponds to the biological circumstances of the kinds of deer at the disposal of the shooting enterprise. Considering only the most important biological factor, the size of the yearly district — i. e. of the area which is inhabited by 1 piece of one kind of deer in the course of 1 year —, it has to be stated that this yearly district covers a multiple of the minimum size of a shooting district. This proportion - one should say disproportion - is recognized by some legal measures (for instance the possibility of rounding up the shooting district, shooting according to shooting plan); but these are insufficient. Especially considering the restriction of movement of free living animals because of the increase of human population, the intensification of agriculture and traffic, other measures (i. e. such of shooting management) ought to be taken.

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 The raccoon-dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray) has been signalized for the first time in Roumania in 1951 in a locality in the South of Roumania, near Bucharest. Lately this dog has been identified in several localities in the North and North-East of the country in Moldavia. Recently, the raccoon-dog gains, more and more, ground, especially in the Danube delta, where the largest number has been observed. In Roumania, the penetration of the raccoon-dog was accomplished by migration-way, by the specimens colonised in U.R.S.S. (Ukraina and the Moldavian Republic).

Description / Table of Contents: Summary Seven wildlife repellents made in USA were tested in a series of preliminary experiments. In these preliminary tests succes was required for admittance to the decisive field test, which is a part of the official recognition procedure of german wildlife repellents. The repulsivity, observed for fenced animals (red-, fallow- and roe-deer, mufflon and rabbits) was compared with nine german official recognized repellents. The results of phytotolerancy using the pelargonium-test and those relating to the technical properties are shortly explained.

Description / Table of Contents: Summary After the population of golden eagles in Tyrol had been much reduced by shooting at least 20 head in the years 1958/59, it was demanded that further shooting must be subject to exact scientific investigation concerning density of population ecc. During the following years 13 eyries were controlled and the young eagles were ringed. Offhand tests in the course of these investigations informed us also of the young eagles' diet. Finally the act of putting the rings on is described and the first results of distant findings (South of France) are treated. The possibilities of shooting golden eagle are considered and it is recommended to prefer the clearing of eyries in certain cases.

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 To evaluate the feeding pressure exerted by roe deer(Capreolus capreolus), on vegetation, the biomass within reach of feeding animals was measured in the Chizé forest (Deux Sèvres, France) in 2 types of woodland (oak and beech), and for 2 levels of population density: a high density of 20 animals/100 hectares (inside a fenced reserve) and a low density of 5 animals/100 hectares (outside the reserve). The biomass of vegetation was sampled 3 times (spring, end of summer, winter) using the same procedure each time. In the oakwood, total biomass was greater in areas of low density population than in areas with high density. In the beechwood, there was no significant difference in total biomass according to population density. In all cases, the maximum total biomass was observed in the spring sampling. Some differences were noted in the composition of the vegetation between the area inside the game reserve and the area outside the reserve.Hedera helix was very abundant outside the reserve andRuscus aculeatus and mosses were more frequent in the reserve. The feeding impact of roe deer on vegetation determines a change in the floral equilibrium permitting an increase in the abundance of plants not eaten by roe deer and causing a decrease of plants favoured by the deer.

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.