212 



/ ARTHUR THOMSON 



[makch 1899 



way suggestive of telegony. In this, as in other cases, the verdict 

 must be non-proven. 



The psychological problem is interesting, how the belief in telegony 

 has become so very widespread ; and the probable answer is twofold, 

 that people are indescribably careless about their beliefs, breeders 

 being notoriously too superstitious, and that the more careful may be 

 easily misled by reversion phenomena which have resulted from the 

 intercrossing. When instances of apparent telegony, of which there 

 are many on record, are carefully analysed, or when the pedigree is 

 traced back, flaws and fallacies are in most cases revealed, as Dr. 0. 



Fig. 3 — Mulatto's Second Foal. 



vom Eath has well shown in an intricate family history of cats (Biol. 

 ■GentralU. 1895, xv. pp. 333, 334). 



To sum up : These interesting experiments, of which it is to be 

 hoped we have had only a preliminary instalment, afford vivid illustra- 

 tions of the unexpectedness of consequences in hybridisation, some 

 cogent scientific evidence of reversion, some analysis of prepotency and 

 its connection with inbreeding, and some demonstration of the difficulty 

 of proving telegony. In more general terms, they have already done 

 not a little towards the fulfilment of Professor Ewart's main intention 

 of making breeding less empirical and the facts of inheritance less 

 obscure; and all biologists will agree in looking with eagerness for 

 more " Penycuik Experiments." 



11 Ramsay Garden, 



Edinburgh. 



