In illegal hunting it is often possible only on the basis of morphological
characteristics to determine the animal species. By the method of comparison
there was performed the forensic analysis of roe deer and sheep osteological
features. For the purpose of investigating the shoulder blade (Scapula) and
shoulder bone (Humerus) comparative characteristics, there were used 6
shoulder blades and 6 shoulder bones of roe deer and 8 shoulder blades and 8
shoulder bones of sheep. After the skin, muscles, arterial, venous and
lymphatic vessels as well as nerves were removed from the bones, they were
thermally treated in an autoclave. Subsequently, the bones were placed in 3%
solutioin of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for bleaching and degreasing. Then
they were air dried and then photographed. Shoulder blade (Scapula) is a
bone plate (Ossa plana) roughly triangular in shape. Scapular spine (Spina
scapulae) is much more prominent in roe deer with acromion blade in the form
of spike, while in sheep it is shorter and ends with acrimion at a right
angle. Shoulder blade cup (Cavitas glenoidalis) in roe deer is round in
shape, and in sheep it is oval. Tuberculum supraglenoidale and Processus
coracoideus in sheep are more and in roe deer less developed. Shoulder bone
(Humerus) in roe deer is relatively long, slender bone with proximal
convexity turned cranially in regard to the same bone in sheep, which is
stronger and heavier. Tuberculum majus in roe deer is less developed, and in
sheep it is in a form of solid bone protuberance. Tuberculum minus and
Tuberositas deltoidea in sheep are more developed than in roe deer. At
medial condyle (Condylus medialis) in sheep there is shallow and wide
groove, while in roe deer it is deeper and narrower. On the basis of
morphological differences of roe deer and sheep bones, it can be determined
with certainty which animal spesies they belong to.