296 



This investigation justifies the conclusion that the whole kidney is 

 not transformed periodically into a silk or slime producing gland, as is 

 maintained by certain authors, but that the process of slime secretion 

 is due to the activity of the epithelial cells of various ducts and tubes of 

 the system not engaged in the excretory function. It is comparable to 

 the secretion of slime by the genital ducts of Amphibia during the 

 breeding season. 



