On Merging in Galaxy Groups

In the present paper we have examined a subsample of the catalogue of groups of galaxies compiled by Huchra and Geller (1982, HG). Our aim was to test whether galaxy merging and cannibalism are active in loose groups, as suggested by McGlynn and Ostriker (1980) who studied a sample drawn from the Turner and Gott’s (1976) catalogue. Our sample is formed of 49 of HG groups (that is all of them having |bII|≥400), to avoid serious reddening problems.