  In this paper we discuss some aspects of inclusive decays of charmed mesons
and also decays of the $\tau$ lepton into $\nu_\tau + 7\pi$. We find that phase
space effects are likely to explain the observed lifetime ratio $\tau(D_s^+) /
\tau(D^0)$ = 1.17. In particular one need not appeal to a large annihilation
contribution in the inclusive $D^0$ decay which, being absent in $D_s^+$ decays
could also contribute to the enhanced $D^0$ decay rate relative to that of the
$D_s^+$. Examining a separate problem, we find that the rate for $\tau\to
\nu_\tau + 7\pi$ is almost completely dominated by the tiny phase space for the
final eight particle state. Using an effective chiral Lagrangian to estimate
the matrix element yields a branching ratio into the channel of interest far
smaller than the present upper bound.
