The observations and experiments with European (Capreolus capreolus) a
nd Siberian (C. pigargus) roe deer were carried out under seminatural
conditions for studying the role of different sources of the lofactory
stimuli (urine, faeces, excretion of specific skin glands) in the spe
cies scent communication. The behavioral responsed to the different ol
factory stimuli were studied. The social interactions related with the
scent communication between the roe deer individuals were found to be
rare in summer time. Among the interactions, two types of the contact
s predominated: naso-nasal and naso-genital ones. The roe deer faeces
as a source of the oIfactory stimuli are far less informative than the
ir urine and transfer the information mainly on the species to which a
n individual belongs. The urine and the excretion of the interdigital
glands are sources of information about the species, sex, age, and phy
siological status of an individual. The male territorial marks contain
ing the excretion of the head skin glands are a source of information
about the species and sex of an individual. The functions of the metat
arsal glands are still not understood. The information about the speci
es and the sex of roe deer individuals is duplicated by the several so
urces of the olfactory stimuli: the urine and the specific skin glands
. The probable mechanisms of an exchange of the olfactory information
between the roe deer individulas am discussed.