Samples of oxamic acid and oxamide, the mono- and di-amide of oxalic acid respectively, have been prepared and purified. The kinetics of hydrolysis of these amides in hydrochloric acid solutions, 0.25 – 0.75 molar, have been studied and the results explained theoretically. A qualitative and quantitative investigation of the hydrolysis products have been carried out and the results used to disprove a theory of the reaction course suggested by McKenzie to explain apparent anomalies in the kinetics. A possible mechanism for amide hydrolysis has been put forward and discussed along with supporting evidence. The relative effects of a carboxyl and an amide group on a neighbouring group have been discussed and it has been concluded that the amide group is the less electron attracting of the two.