396 MR. W. AND MISS A. BATESON ON FLORAL VARIATIONS 
eularly to be regretted that the number of petals and stamens is 
not always given by Lafont. He mentions, for example, a 
two-lipped flower with two spurs and six stamens, but as the 
number of petals is not given it is not possible to say whether it 
agrees with our 6-petalled form or not. Again, he describes a 
two-lipped flower without spurs, but does not give the number 
of the stamens, which is unfortunate, since from our obser- 
vations (see p. 411) there is reason for supposing that variation 
in number of spurs may be correl ated with change in the number 
of stamens. It is very remarkable that among a number of 
varieties so large as that seen in Linaria vulgaris by Lafont 
and Chavannes, none should have corresponded with any of the 
several types characterized by the presence of a single posterior 
petal. Since this seems to be one of the most usual forms of 
variation in L. spuria, it might be expected to be frequent in an 
allied species. But how little importance can be attached to such 
à priori reasoning in phenomena where variation is eoncerned, is 
shown by the entire want of abnormal forms in L. Elatine, which 
is found constantly growing with and even intertwined with 
L. spuria, and which is so like it in form and colour that the 
two might almost pass for varieties of one species. 
For a further discussion of the significance of these variations 
the reader is referred to the end of this paper. 
II. Veronica BUXBAUMII. 
Variations in the floral symmetry of this plant occur with 
extraordinary frequency. The plant is found in nearly all stubbles 
and waste places round Cambridge, and with two exceptions 
abnormal flowers were found in every locality where an exami- 
nation was made. The observations were begun on the heavy 
land between the Histon road and the Madingley road, and in 
each sample of flowers from this distriet there were several with 
only three petals, while a small proportion had only two. The 
details of these proportions as shown in the table on p. 397. In 
a plot of waste garden-land a few flowers were found with two 
posterior petals and a few with two anterior petals. 
The two exceptional localities were both barley-stubbles on a 
subsoil of gravel, and in them no variation beyond change of 
size or tint was observed. These facts suggested that perhaps 
the heavy nature of the soil may have some connection with the 
presence of the varying forms; but amongst a small number of 
