The Evidence from Variation. 165 



most anomalous and exceptional phenomena as well as 

 the more ordinary and simple cases, I think we mnst 

 acknowledge that our theory is at least an approximation 

 to tlie truth. 



If it leads us to the discovery of truth, and thus ulti- 

 mately contributes to the establishment of an explana- 

 tion of the phenomena of heredity, its final acceptance 

 in its present form is a matter of little moment. That 

 it is a great advance beyond all the attempts which have 

 been recorded seems obvious, and an examination of the 

 ground which it covers certainly seems to show that it is 

 a step in the right direction. 



