ABSTRACTS. 285 



5. Well marked broodiness behavior may in certain cases 

 disappear very quickly. 



6. The manifestations of the brooding instinct are appar- 

 ently closely connected with the functional activity of the 

 ovary, though the precise nature of the connection has not yet 

 been analyzed. 



Studies on the Physiology of Reproduction in the Domes- 

 tic FowE. viii, on some Physiologicae Eeeects of 

 Ligation, Section or Removal of the Oviduct.* 



This paper describes the results of various surgical inter- 

 ferences with the egg-producing mechanism of the fowl, under- 

 taken for the purpose of getting more light on the normal 

 physiology of the organs concerned. 



The chief results obtained are: 



1. Neither the ligation, section, nor entire removal of the ovi- 

 duct causes the degeneration or prevents the further growth of 

 the ovar3^ 



2. The pressure of the enclosing funnel is evidently not 

 necessary to ovulation since yolks are ovulated into the 

 body cavity after the ostium is sewed or ligated or after the 

 entire duct is removed. 



3. Internal pressure due to continued yolk formation is 

 probably the most important factor in the normal rupture of 

 the follicle, since closing the funner or removing the duct 

 apparent!}' does not greatly delay ovulation. 



4. There are cases of unoperated birds with normally func- 

 tioning ovaries, and oviducts apparently capable of functioning, 

 which do not produce eggs because of some anatomical or 

 physiological condition of the mouth of the oviduct which 

 prevents the entrance of the yolk. 



5. The fate of yolks or eggs set free in the body cavity 

 depends apparently upon the physiological vigor of the bird. 

 First, they may cause serious metabolic disturbances which 

 result in the death of the bird; second, they may be absorbed 

 rapidly from the general peritoneal surface ; or third, they may 

 be walled off by peritoneum and then absorbed. 



*This is an abstract of a paper bearing the same title by Raymond Pearl 

 and Alice M. Boring, which was published in the Journal of Experimental 

 Zo61og3^ Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 395-424- 



