The acidic and alcoholic components of the uropygial gland wax from the tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) were investigated by a combination of GLC and mass spectrometry. Main components of the acidic part of the waxes are 2,4,6-trimethyl-nonanoic (39.0%) 2,4,6-trimethyl-octanoic (8.7%) and 2,6-dimethyl nonanoic acid (5.9%). Besides, 2,4,8-, 2,6,8-, and 2,6,10-trimethyl-substituted fatty acids occur. As minor components 2-methyl- and homologous series of 2,4-, 2,6-, 2,8-, and

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... ed fatty acids could be detected. Main components of the wax alcohols were n-hexadecanol and n-octadecanol. As minor components 2-, 6-, 10-, 12-, and 14-methyl-branched primary alkanols occur. The tufted duck shows an uropygial gland wax which is typical for the 17th order of the natural system