Zur Chemotaxonomie der Corviden, II. Die Bürzelsekrete von Eichelhäher (Garrulus glandariusJ, Elster (Pica pica), Alpendohle (Pyrrhocorax graculus) und Kolkrabe ( Corvus corax) / Chemotaxonomy of Corvidae, II. The Uropygial Gland Secretion from the Jay (G

The uropygial gland fats from four species of the family Corvidae are found to be mainly mono­ ester waxes, which consist of mono-, di-, and trimethyl substituted fatty acids and n- and methyl-branched alcohols. The positions of all methyl brandlings are even-numbered, the 2-position is preferred. About 2 - 40% of the secretions consist of triester waxes: Alkyl-hydroxy-malonic acids esterified with n-fatty acids and n-alcohols. Waxes of this type are very common in the uropygial gland fats of birds and therefore, in opposite to the monoester waxes, they are not usable for a chemotaxo­ nomy of birds.