In the present study are presented structural details of the papilla of the lingua of a flying fox (Pteropus dasymallus yayeyamae) caught in Iriomote Is., Okinawa Prefecture, as seen by scanning electron microscopy and conventional light microscopy. The length of the lingua, which lacked a distinct sulcus medianus, was usually such (about 53-57 mm) that it projected into the extra-oral cavity; the radix linguae had three round papillae vallatae in a triangular arrangement; and the margo linguae showed occasional papillae fungiformes. The papillae filiformes extended over the dorsum linguae, but their shape varied : those in the center of the corpus linguae had trifurcate tips, which gave a roughness typical in the Felidae; those at the apex linguae were larger than in other sites and took the form of scales pointing towards the throat. Thus, characteristics of the species employed in our study seemed to correspond to its specific eating habits, such as its fondness for fruit juice, young bark and flowers and its spitting out of fibrous.

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By using the n-s curve, which represents relationship between counted animal numbers and count unit size, the accuracy of block count method, considered to be a practical method for counting numbers of sika deer (Cervus nippon), was tentatively applied in Fudakake, Tanzawa mountains, Kanagawa Prefecture, 1972-1975. The size of count-units ranged from 6.5 to 40.4 ha. It took three hours in more than 10 ha-unit counts and one hour in 6.5 ha-unit count. The whole count area was 98 ha in the 6.5 ha-unit count and 260 or 320 ha in other unit-counts. The highest value of 31/km² was obtained in the smallest unit of 6.5 ha. The larger the count units, the lower the accuracy; the n-s curve obtained resembled a reversed J-shaped curve. This pattern may be caused mainly by a high percentage of forest-covered area and densely grown Miscanthus grass widespread in cut-over areas and young-aged plantations. Since a 6.5 ha-unit was probably small enough for search of sika deer, a nearly actual number should be obtained in this small unit in one hour-count.

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Seasonal changes in grouping behavior of male sika deer were studied over a period of two years in Nara Park, and compared with other populations. Four types of social groups which males joined were distinguished. Males tend to gather into male groups throughout the year except during the rut. The patterns of the monthly mean number of males per group were similar for both years. Males were most gregarious in the spring and summer and least gregarious in the fall.

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A total of 23 stomachs of the Kuril seal were obtained along the eastern coast of Hokkaido, Japan, during 1969, 1970 and 1974. Food organisms were found in 11 of the 16 stomachs examined except pups. Among them, Paraoctopus dofleini was the dominant food species occurring in 7 of 11 stomachs. Fishes were identified as Theragra chalcogramma, Hypomesus japonicus, Pleuronectidae, Scorpaenidae, and Pagurinae. Findings indicate that the Kuril seal mainly feeds on benthonic fishes and octopus in the coastal waters. It is worth noting that milk was found in three stomachs collected on 25 May and 9 June. It seems that weaning in this species probably takes place sometime between the end of May and early June.

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Geographic variations and sexual differences of external and skull taxonomical characters were studied in 14 male, 48 female and one sex-unknown specimens of Miniopterus magnater SANBORN, 1931 from New Guinea, and 45 male and 63 female specimens of M. macrodens MAEDA, 1982 from Timor, Bali, Java, Borneo, Thailand, Burma, Hong Kong and Hainan. In the FL, FL to GL, and all the ratios of skull characters of M. macrodens, no sexual difference was there. In the TL, TL to FL and all the skull dimensions except UW, the males were significantly larger than the females. The UW of male was larger than in the females, but between them there was no significant difference. In the FL the bats from Thailand, Burma and Hainan were larger and those from Timor and Bali were smaller. In the TL the bats from Thailand, and in the TL to FL those from Thailand and Timor were larger than in the others, respectively. In the skull dimensions, on the whole, the bats from HongKong were the largest, next those from Borneo, and those from Hainan, Java and Bali were smaller. In the MW to GL and BW to GL, no geographic variation was observed, and in the other pairs of skull dimensions, there were clear geographic variations. In the FL of M. magnater, the alcohol-preserved specimens were significantly larger than the dried. In all the characters of M. magnater except the MW, the sizes and ratios were very stable geographically. Namely, in almost of all the characters in M. macrodens, geographic variations were observed, and in M. magnater no geographic variation.

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[in Japanese]

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Macroscopical and light microscopical observation were made on morphological changes of the stomach with growth in the Japanese field vole (Microtus montebelli) . A total of 28 voles 1-815 days old after birth were used for them.
The gastric (esophageal) groove became apparent at 9-11 days of age and was formed completely at 14 days of age.
The fimbria was completed macroscopically at 33-48 days of age.
A keratinized squamous epithelium began to be noticed on the surface of the forestomach and hindstomach, except the gastric gland region, at one day of age. These organs were formed completely at about 17 days of age.
Of the glandular cells constituting the fundic glands (glandular region), parietal and chief cells were confirmed light microscopically to have been differentiated at 7-11 days of age. Most of the cells forming the glandular tissue could be distinguished from one another at about 17 days of age.
In conclution, it was clarified that such basic structure of the stomach as related to the gastric digestion was comleted at about 17 days of age. When raised under experimental conditions, the Japanese field vole is usually weaned at 17 days of age. It was suggested that the stomach might be able to digest feed ingested by the vole 17 days of age after weaning.

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This paper reports the variation of number and form of vertebral columm, sternum and ribs in the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinusTEMMINCK 1884) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonicaGRAY 1868) .
Generally, in the raccoon dog (Table 1), the vertebral column consisted of seven cervical vertebras (100%), thirteen thoracic vertebras (93.8%), seven lumbar vertebras (98.0%), three sacral vertebras (92.9%), and seventeen to eighteen caudial vertebras (81.5%) . The sternum consisted of one manubrium (100%), six segments of body (76.3%) and one xiphiod process (100%), and the ribs were thirteen on either sides (93.8 %) . Variation of form of bones (Table 2) appered atlas (2.0%), fused rib of thoracic vertebra (1.0%) and abnormal osification of seventh lumbar vertebra with sacrum (1.0%), and caudal vertebras had the fused bones in extreme (63.2%) .
Generally, in red fox (Table 3), the vertebral column consisted of seven cervical vertebras (100%), thirteen thoracic vertebras (100%), seven lumbar vertebras (98.6%), three sacral vertebras (94.3%) and twenty to twenty-one caudal vertebras (86.5%) . The sternum consisted of one manumbrium (100%), six segments of body (88.0%) and one xiphoid process (100%), and the ribs were thirteen on either sides (97.4%) . Variation of form of bones (Table 4) appered congenital scoliosis (1.4%) lumbar rib (2.9 %) and costal process of sacrnum (2.9%) and costal process of sacrnum (2.9 %), and caudal vertebras had the bones in extreme (80.7%) .

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To examine the fragmentation process of food plants, the contents from seven parts of the gastrointestinal tract of Sika deer (Cervus nippon) were sampled and screened through the sieves of different apertures. Discontinuous changes in the particle size were recognized between the reticulum and the omasum. The proportions of particles larger than 1.0 mm were ca. 50% in the rumen and the reticulum, while those from the lower parts (omasum, abomasum, small intestine, caecum and rectum) were smaller than 20%.

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