The only difference between the anterior region of the tongue during hibernation and during the feeding season seems to be in the scaly layer of the epithelium. Instead of the compact, sharply differentiated layer of scaly cells seen in Figure 36, the anterior region of the tongue during feeding is covered with a layer of rather loose, scaly cells, in most of which the nuclei may be seen. No difference in the amount of sloughing off can be noticed as is the case with the epithelium of the roof of the mouth. Figure 37 represents a section, under very low magnification, of the covering of the base of the tongue. The areolar tissue, _a_, is about the same as in the preceding section, except that it is more compact just under the epithelium than it is in its deeper regions. It seems also more vascular than in the preceding section. [Illustration: FIG. 37. Covering of the posterior region of the tongue of the hibernating animal showing glands, under low magnification; _a_, areolar tissue; _bv_, blood-vessels; _g_, glands; _e_, epithelium.] The epithelium, _e_, is of the stratified squamous variety, but consists of many more layers of cells than in the preceding section and is hence several times as thick. While its cells are flattened towards the surface, after the manner of this kind of epithelium, they do not form the definite horny layer described above. [Illustration: FIG. 38. One of the glands from the posterior region of the tongue of the hibernating animal, under high magnification; _a_, areolar tissue; _av_, alveolus.] The most marked difference between the two regions of the tongue is the presence, in the posterior or basal region, of numerous glands, _g_, probably mucous- or slime-secreting. They are thickly scattered through the areolar base, close beneath the epithelium. Two large glands and one small one are shown in the figure under discussion. Each gland opens to the surface by an apparently wide duct, but since no good section of such a duct was obtained it is not shown in the figure. Although the rest of the tissue was well preserved and showed cell structure clearly, it was with difficulty that the details of the glands could be determined.