Volatile compounds from the red deer (Cervus elaphus) Secretion from the tail gland.

The major volatile, organic compounds secreted by the tail gland of the red deer (Cervus elaphus) have been identified as phenol,m-cresol, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, ethylphenol, dimethyl sulfone,o-cresol and 3-phenylpropanoic acid. The secretion from ten dead and three live animals was investigated, those from the live ones over a period of time. There were variations in the relative amounts of the identified compounds, but no correlation of the variations with time of sampling was possible.