122 THE SHORTER SCIENTIFIC PAPERS 



2. Indirect Conclusions 



The conclusions here presented are generahzations 

 based on the present investigation as well as the work of 

 others, and represent propositions concerning which dif- 

 ferences of opinion may exist. 



1. Amphimixis, cross-breeding, etc., decreases and does 

 not augment variability (cumulability) although amphi- 

 mutability may temporarily be increased. 



2. Close bred forms are more highly correlated in re- 

 spect to related characters than cross-bred forms. 



3. Variations, so far as their origin is concerned, may 

 be separated into {A) Normations consisting of (1) 

 fluctuations, (2) amphimutations, and (3) cumulations, 

 and into {B) Abnormations consisting of (1) malsegrega- 

 tions, (2) defactorations, (3) fractionations, and (4) 

 malformations. 



4. Cumulations may best be investigated among organ- 

 isms produced asexually, by pure lines, or by close breed- 

 ing than by cross breeding, etc. 



5. Sexual reproduction and cross fertilization have 

 been advantageous in the evolution of organisms by limit- 

 ing cumulability and thus confining the progress of the 

 group to a path bounded by the more permanent environ- 

 ment. 



6. Death occurs as a result of the continually forming 

 body cells becoming so variable through the absence of 

 control by amphimixis, that eventually some one group 

 fails to meet the limits imposed by the environment, and 

 these together with the remainder of the colony — the 

 individual — perish. 



3 . Hypotheses 



The following opinions in the nature of hypotheses 

 based to a large extent on the preceding work may be 

 confirmed or invalidated by future investigations. 



1. Variability (cumulability) will be greater in a small 

 and isolated population than in a large and less Isolated 

 population. 



