HEREDITY. 435 



the age of sixteen. After that the edges became modi- 

 fied by growth or absorption, becoming less sharp, 

 following in this respect the changes that gradually 

 occurred in the shape of the bone in the mother. The 

 son is otherwise normal. Three other children of the 

 same parents, one born before and two after the birth 

 of the one described, are entirely normal. The ances- 

 tors of both parents are known for several generations 

 (from three to eight in the several lines) and all were 

 normal, so far as is known." 



"(This case has been under my own observation 

 during the whole period.) 



"It will be noticed that in the cases a, b, and/, the 

 injury to the parent occurred shortly before or during 

 gestation, and that the healing had not taken place 

 until after the birth of the offspring. Also, that the 

 function of the organ involved, an important organ in 

 the animal economy, was at the time suspended. Also 

 that in all these cases, later offspring were normal." 



e. Inheritance of Characters Due to Regional Influences. 



Characters of this kind mostly come under the head 

 of Physiogenesis. A case of inheritance is thus re- 

 corded by Brewer. 



"The texture and certain other characters of wool 

 which are of practical importance to manufacturers, 

 depend in part on the breed and health of the animals, 

 in part on the kind of food and on its uniformity of 

 supply, and in part on local conditions of climate, 

 soil, and forage. The wool grown in some regions is 

 harsher than that grown in others, and this is certainly 

 an acquired character in that it takes place in flocks 

 taken from one region to another. I have specimens 

 of wool alleged to have been taken from the same 



