The absorption of three amino acids (leucine, alanine and lysine) from the washed, closed rumen was studied in a short-term (75 min) experiment in situ. The concentration of leucine and alanine did not change in the rumen during the experiment, while that of lysine continuously decreased, and 40% of the total lysine placed in the rumen was absorbed during the experimental period. The rate of absorption decreased in proportion to the fall of amino acid concentration.