HISTOLOGY Olf THEi OVIDUCT OF THE D0ME;STIC HE^N. 407 



the writer is aware this is the first time that such glands have 

 been noted in the funnel neck of an avian oviduct. 



We may pass now to a brief consideration of the epithelium 

 in the region of the transition from funnel to albumen portion. 

 Figure 459 shows under rather low magnification, a portion of 

 the inner layers of the oviduct at this point. The most char- 

 acteristic thing here is the appearance of sections of tubules 

 lying in the connective tissue below the epithelium. This is 

 the first appearance of what we may call the tubular glands. 

 From this point posteriorly to the vagina they form the most 

 important organ of secretion in the entire oviduct. At this 

 point in the oviduct there are only a few tubules present. It 

 thus presents an excellent place for the study of the origin of 

 these structures, and of their relation to other glandular ele- 

 ments of the oviduct. Figure 464 shows a small portion of the 

 epithelium from^ this region of the oviduct. This figure shows 

 the region between two of the secondary folds of the epithelium 

 and thus corresponds exactly to the glandular grooves found 

 farther forward in the funnel. If we compare figure 464 with 

 figures 460 and 461, the resemblance can be traced very easily. 

 In the middle of figure 464 there is a group of ciliated cells 

 with gland cells 'between (the lower row of gland cell nuclei 

 can be seen here.) On either side of this ciliated area occur 

 groups of shorter gland cells. No ciliated cells are present in 

 these latter areas. On the left side in figure 464 this glandular 

 area is greatly extended forming a long branched pouch of 

 which only a portion is shown in the section represented. Now 

 the central group of long cells corresponds to the group of long 

 ciliaterl and glandular cells which form the raised portion in 

 the center of the glandular groove in figure 462. The non- 

 ciliated glandular areas on either side of this ciliated tuft cor- 

 respond to the corners of the glandular groove in figure 461. 

 In figure 464 it is seen that one of these corners is greatly ex- 

 tended and enlarged' to form a long pouch or tube. If the 

 series of sections, from which this figure has been drawn, is 

 followed through, it is seen that the other corner of the groove 

 is also extended into a tubular structure. These tubular struc- 

 tures are the beginnings of long convoluted tubular glands. 

 These tubular glands form the most conspicuous part of the 

 oviduct in the region between the funnel and vagina. They 



