RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE QUALITATIVE COMPOSITIONS OF FOOD RESOURCES, STOMACH CONTENTS, AND FECES IN SMALL HERBIVOROUS MAMMALS

The possibility of using stomach contents and feces to estimate the qu alitative composition of the food consumed was studied in six rodent s pecies and the European hare. The chemical composition of the stomach contents almost entirely reflected the composition of the consumed foo d with respect to such important parameters as protein, fat, cellulose , and nitrogen-free extractive substances. This correspondence was pre served in animals slaughtered one or two hours after feeding. When fec es were studied, a close correspondence to the food was found with res pect to the cellulose content aid, in the case of gerbils and the Euro pean hare, the fat and protein contents as well.