The myofiber type profiles of the following skeletal muscles of the Guinea Fowl were examined histochemically : M. obliquus externus abdominis, M. obliquus internus abdominis, M. trapezius, M. latissimus dorsi, M. pectralis superficialis, M. pectralis profundus, M. triceps brachii, M, extensor carpi radialis longus, M. sartorius, M. rectus femoris, M. adductor magnus, M semitendinosus, M. semimembranosus, M. gastrocnemius-caput latelare, M. gastrocnemius-caput mediale, and M. soleus. According to the histoenzymatic reaction pattern (succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase, lactate dehydrogenase, beta hydroxybutylate dehydrogenase, alpha glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase, phosphrylase, and myosin adenosine triphosphatase), myofibers were divided into three types, i.e. fast-twitch-glycolytic (FG), fast-twitch-oxidative-glycolytic (FOG) and slow-twitch-oxidative (SO) types. Furthermore, according to the intensity of the enzyme reactions, FG type fibers were subdivided into two types, FOG type fibers into four types, and SO type fibers into three types.
FG1, FOG2, FOG3, SO1 and 503 type fibers could be observed in M. obliquus externus abdominis. FG2, FOG2, FOGS, SOl and S02 were observed in M. obliquus internus abdominis. SOl and SO2 were observed in trapezius. FG1, FOG2, FOG3, SO1 and SO2 were observed in M. lattissimus dorsi. FG1, FOG3, FOG4 and SO2 were observed in M. pectralis superficialis, M. pectralis profundud and M. semitendinosus. FG1, FOG3 and S02 were observed in M. triceps brachii and M, extensor carpi radialis longus. FGI, .FOGI, FOG3, SOl and S02 were observed in M, sartorius and M. rectus femoris. FG2, FOG2, FOG3 and SOl were observed in M. adductor magnus. FG2, FOG2, FOG3, S02 and SO3 were observed in M. semimembranosus. FGI, FOG1, FOG2 and SO1 were observed in M. gastrocnemius-caput raterale and mediale. FG2, FOG2, FOGS, 501 and S02 were observed in M. soleus.
The ratio of the number of the FG type fibers was higher than the fibers of other types with exception of M. obliquus externus abdominis, M. obliquus internus abdominis, M. rectus femoris, M, adductor magnus, M, semimembranosus and M. soleus. In these exceptional muscles, FOG type fibers were dominant.
M. trapezius was composed of SO type fibers. The diameter of myofiber showed the largest value in FG type fibers with the exception of M. trapezius and M. soleus, and showed the smallest value in SO type fibers with the exception of M. trapezius, M. adductor magnus, M. semimembranosus, M. gastrocnemius-caput latelare, M. gastrocnemiuscaput mediale and M. soleus. The variation of myofiber was largest in FG type fibers.
The pH stability of myosin ATPase activity varies with the muscle fiber types. The range of pH stability at alkaline pH range was more extensive in FG type fibers than in the other types of myofiber, whereas at acidic pH range SO type fibers were more extensive in the range of pH stability than other myofiber types.

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Surveys on the status of seabirds breeding in Hokkaido were carried out in 1980’s (see Appendix). Approximate total numbers of breeding pairs in Hokkaido were: Larus schistisagus 9, 600-10, 000, L. crassirostris 36, 000-40, 000, Phalacrocorax filamentosus 1, 900, P. pelagicus 10, Uria aalge 30-60, Cerorhinca monocerata 180, 000, and Oceanodroma leucorhoa 500, 000. In breeding areas during the breeding seasons, about 20 adults of Lunda cirrhata and 400 adults of Cepphus carbo were observed. Synthliboramphus antiquus bred on Teuri and Habomaimoshiri Islands. The two Larus species and P. filamentosus have increased in numbers, whereas U. aalge, C. carbo and L. cirrhata have decreased recently; U. aalge in particular is endangered.

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[in Japanese]

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During a short stay in the Bonin Islands from March 9 to 19, 1988, we identified several food items and recorded the hunting behaviour of the Ogasawara Buzzard Buteo buteo toyoshimai, an endemic subspecies of the Buzzard Buteo buteo. Of six food items identified, five were lizards, Ablepharus boutonii and Anolis carolinensis, and one was a small passerine. Male buzzards hunted from hovering or from perches. The prey was immediately eaten, put on the nest, or fed to the mate on the nest or on a branch.

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The White Stork Ciconia ciconia boyciana has ceased to breed in Japan since 1965. However, between 1972 and 1988 there were 23 records of wintering or migrant storks from Hokkaido, northernmost island of Japan. Some of these records may probably represent the same individuals. Thus, at least 12 birds have occurred in Hokkaido since 1972. Although this species also sporadically occurs in Honshu southwards, there is no evidence that the birds observed in Hokkaido flew from the south through Honshu.

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A Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos nestling (34-36 days old) was found dead in the eyrie in the Hakusan Range of Japan on 8 May 1986. The eaglet was collected, measured and necropsied. It had a massive lesion in the throat (Fig. 2), which extended deep into the tissues of the pharynx and blocked the passageway. Histopathological inspection revealed that the eaglet died of septicemia induced from the wound to the mucous membrane of the pharynx infected with bacteria rather than due to starvation.

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An anomalous chick of the Green Pheasant Phasianus c. versicolor with a body and 4 legs was found on 20 May 1985 in the mountain in Kameoka City, Kyoto Pref. It was caught alive as the female pheasant flushed, but died shortly in captivity.

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