The (n, 2n) cross sections were measured for the nuclei N 14, pa, CalS, Sc4£ MnS~, NiSS, Cu6~, ZneS, Zn66, SeSZ, RbSS, RbST, ysa, Zra0, Mog.~, Snn2, Sm1~4 at ah excess energy 3 MeV above threshold. In addition, the (n, 2n) cross sections for the nuclei Zn s4, Zn 7~ Ga ea, Ga 71, As 75, Mo 1~176 Pb 2~ as well as the cross section of the process Pb ~~ (n, n') Pb 2~4m were determined at 14,7 MeV bombardirtg neutron energy. At 3 MeV excess energy a strong N-Z dependence has been found in the (n, 2n) cross sections, valid for a broad region of tteutron numbers which can be accounted for by the influence of direct inelastic scattering leading to low lying levels of the target rmcleus. An empirical formula is given for calculating (n, 2n) cross sections.