The Snorting Voice of the Sika Deer in Relation to its Spacing Distribution

抄録

This paper deals with the snorting voice of the sika deer (Cervus nippon) emitted as a response to the mimic sound, which is made by blowing strongly a thin sheet put between thumbs. The researches were carried out at Akasaka Pass in Iwate Prefecture, Omote-Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, and the Tanzawa Mountains in Kanagawa Prefecture, from May to October, 1969-1972. In the daytime, without exceptions, the deer ran away with or without snorting voice, responding to the mimic sounds. At night, however, the deer replied by snorting voices from here and there in a wide extent. But their response of snorting voice was restricted to the nights of bright moonlight. It was apparent from the replied snortings that the females were spaced away from each other. They were probably emitted by adult does which were widely dispersed in the calving and lactating season. Accordingly, these snortings should be considered to have a threatening effect against intruders as well as alarming for the group members.