Dr. Kassai Tibor - Dr. Murai Éva szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 7. (Budapest, 1974)

several large and small regular plots for various examinations. The lower soil layer of the ecosystem is Miocene gravel covered byclayey sediment 3-6 m deep. The soil above this is of the character of forest soils mixed with clay. Average annual rainfall 550-580 mm; mean annual temperature 9.9 °C; forest stand homogeneous Quercetum petreae-cerris

, an offshoot wood, 65 years old; shrubs represented by 16, and flowering plants by 45-50 species, well-known as components of the plant associations of this kind . The principle of studies to be conducted in the model area is that activities of the character which may adversely effect on the investigations of the microfauna, soil fungi, soil bacteria, soil analysis, C0

2 turnover, litter decomposition, etc. (e.g. felling of trees, removal of shrubs, mass animal collectings) will not be allowed within a protective zone of some meters in width, surrounding the model area. For massive collection of aninals another experimental field of similar size and character was assigned in the vicinity of the model area. The parasitological research staff of the Hungarian Natural History Museum participate in the scientific work of the "Síkfőkút Project". During the first year of project operations a complete parasitological examination of the small mammals for both ecto- and endoparasites could not be undertaken. This was because of the ecological, ethological and population-dynamical observations conducted by mammalogist

s of the Museum in the model territory. This work necessitated trapping and releasing the small mammals after having them weighed and marked. The ether narcosis of a short duration applied for this reason enabled the mammalogists - Mr. G

. STOHL and Mr. GY. T0PÁL - to collect the immobilized ectoparasites - especially fleas - from the narcotized mammalian hosts. For their helpful assistance I should like to express my gratitude to the collectors. The first collection of small mammals took place on 1-2 November, I973, when 100 live traps were set in regular rows, so that even the farthest one was within 100 meters from the bor-