viii Preface 



assistance which will prepare him to get the most 

 from Mendel's own memoir. 



The next step was at once to defend Mendel from 

 Professor Weldon. That could only be done by 

 following this critic from statement to statement in 

 detail, pointing out exactly where he has gone wrong, 

 what he has misunderstood, what omitted, what in- 

 troduced in error. With such matters it is easy to 

 deal, and they would be as nothing could we find in his 

 treatment some word of allusion to the future ; some 

 hint to the ignorant that this is a very big thing ; 

 some suggestion of what it all may mean if it be 

 true. 



Both to expose each error and to supply effectively 

 what is wanting, within the limits of a brief article, 

 written with the running pen, is difficult. For sim- 

 plicity I have kept almost clear of reference to facts 

 not directly connected with the text, and have foregone 

 recital of the now long list of cases, both of plants 

 and animals, where the Mendelian principles have 

 already been perceived. These subjects are dealt 

 with in a joint Report to the Evolution Committee of 

 the Royal Society, made by Miss E. R. Saunders and 

 myself, now in the Press. To Miss Saunders who 

 has been associated with me in this work for several 

 years I wish to express my great indebtedness. Much 



