ORIGIN OF SPECIES 153 



increase in the character affected. In fact, while some 

 dominant mutants add something to the original 

 character (size or complexity), others diminish the 

 same character. 



In the fifth place it is possible that under natural 

 conditions dominant advantageous characters have 

 a far better chance to become established than reces- 

 sive advantageous characters, because, by definition, 

 they produce a greater or less effect on the hybrid 

 and give it an advantage from the start. Tempting 

 as is such a suggestion, it would be hazardous at 

 present to use it to exj^lain the observed dominance 

 of many of the characters of the wild types as com- 

 pared with the recessiveness of many of the new 

 mutant types that aj)pear or are preserved under 

 cultivation. 



