GO RADIAL REPETITION. [iNTROD. 



no evidence: it is therefore a fair presumption that they are 

 eith.-r ran- nr non-existent ; and that the peach-state and the 



arin. -state are thus positions of " Organic Stability," between 

 \vhi.-h th.- intermediate states, if they are chemical and physical 



-ibilities, are positions of instability. 



These examples of Discontinuity in Substantive Variation 

 iiui-t Mittire to illustrate the nature of the phenomena. It will be 



M that the matters touched on cover a wide range, and the 

 evidence relating to them must be considered separately and at 

 l.-n-th. Such a consideration I hope in a future volume to 

 attempt. 



SECTION XL 

 his- "N-n.NTITV IN M ERISTIC VARIATION: EXAMPLES. 



as the facts of Meristic Variation form the substance 

 ..f i hi- \.-lume. it is unnecessary in this place to do more than refer 

 t.. tli.' manner in which they exhibit the phenomenon of Dis- 

 '"iitiuuitv. < iin- or two instances must suffice to give some sug- 

 ii ..t" tin- -uliject, detailed consideration being reserved. 



Tart- repeated meristically form commonly a series, which is 

 itln-r radial <>r linear. or disposed in some other figure derived 

 fr.iin "i- compounded <>f these. For the purpose of this preliminary 



treatment an instance "t I >i-cnnt inuous Variation in each of these 

 ma !>. taken. 



1. Rmliiil Series. 



\ariations in the number of petaU of actinomorphic flowers 

 exhiliit the I )i>c..ntintiity of Meristic Variation in perhaps its 

 simplest form. 



Phenomena of precisely similar nature will hereafter be de- 

 s.-nlied in animals. lmt Mich variati<ns in flowers are so common 

 and -. . a'-ce>sille that j-efereiice tu them mav with profit be made. 

 In Fig. 7 such an example i~~ shewn. 



It repi-e-.-nt- ;l Tulip haxin^ the parts of the flower formed in 

 multiples .if tour, in-tead f in multiples of three as normally. 

 \ anati'in of this kind may In- seen in any field or hedgerow 1 . 



M-ri-tic Variation is here pre>eiite.| in its gre at est simplicity. 

 Such a rase may well se r \e to illustrate some of the phenomena of 

 D -lit iniiity. 



full lii'Tatmr mid lists df c;isrs si-f cspeciiilly MASTEUS, Verit'taMe 



'. \. l'.ili/]iliiilfii. It is iicrlnips nun. T.. -siiiy to refer to the fact that 



|i.'keii of ure (|iiite distinct from those which result 



fr.-iM mi ii--iiiiii.ti.>n l.y the members -f ...... series or whorl of the form and 



! nih.-r wliorls. 



