We have measured the nonelastic cross section O-R for 40-MeV alpha particle for 19 target elements ranging in atomic weight A between 9 and 232. The results have been compared with the predictions of the optical model ai. The ratio 0-/2/07 deviates from unity in a systematic fashion being less than 1 for the lightest elements and greater than 1 for the heaviest. Superimposed on this trend, O-R/O-I dips by 18% for elements where the nuclear charge is near 28. A similar effect had been noted earlier in proton-reaction cross-section data but not in deuteron-reaction cross-section data. W E have measured the reaction cross section v R for 40-MeV alpha particles, and we compare it with the prediction ai of the optical-model potential for alpha particles. 1,2 The ratio (TR/