[Group behavior of mice in population cages].

A model of a population cage has been proposed, intended for a quantitative and qualitative estimation of the group behaviour of mice, for determining the type of their interrelations and identifying the dominant in the group. In experiments on 120 mice the fundamental types of interaction between mice (peaceful or conflicting) have been singled out in the apparatus, as well as the behaviour phases of each type of interaction. It has been shown that the type and phases of interaction in mice depend on the presence of a dominant in the group, the sex and age composition of the group, the degree of adaptation to one another, and the previous experience (being kept in isolation or in a group). The final effect of group interaction is determined not by a simple sum of individual characteristics of the animals, but is subordinated to the rules of zoosocial behaviour, i. e. the formation of stage by stage dominant- subordinate relationships.