Reports pertaining to the measurement of respiratory variables in small laboratory mammals have been collected from the open literature. The techniques reported from 1941 to June 1978 for measurement of breathing pattern, lung volumes, transpulmonary pressure, lung mechanics and gas exchange in small mammals are presented. A brief chronological history of publication of these techniques and a listing of typical applications is also included. Reported values for healthy mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits have been summarized in tubular form.