26 The Problems 



nothing whatever to do with the question of the inheritance 

 being blended or alternative. In fact, as soon as the relation 

 of zygote characters to gamete characters is appreciated, it is 

 difficult to see any reason for supposing that the manifes- 

 tation of characters seen in the zygotes should give any 

 indication as to their mode of allotment among the gametes. 

 On a previous occasion I pointed out that the terms 

 " Heredity ' : and " Inheritance " are founded on a mis- 

 application of metaphor, and in the light of our present 

 knowledge it is becoming clearer that the ideas of "trans- 

 mission " of a character by parent to offspring, or of there 

 being any "contribution" made by an ancestor to its pos- 

 terity, must only be admitted under the strictest reserve, 

 and merely as descriptive terms. 



We are now presented with some entirely new con- 

 ceptions :- 



(1) The purity of the gametes in regard to certain 

 characters. 



(2) The distinction of all zygotes according as they are or 

 are not formed by the union of like or unlike gametes. 

 In the former case, apart from Variation, they breed 

 true when mated with their like ; in the latter case 

 their offspring, collectively, will be heterogeneous. 



(3) If the zygote be formed by the union of dissimilar 

 gametes, we may meet the phenomenon of (a) domi- 

 nant and recessive characters ; (6) a blend form ; 

 (c) a form distinct from either parent, often 

 reversionary*. 



* This fact sufficiently indicates the difficulties involved in a 

 superficial treatment of the phenomenon of reversion. To call such 

 reversions as those named above "returns to ancestral type" would 

 be, if more than a descriptive phrase were intended, quite misleading. 



