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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



It is thus evident that there is a considerable body of opinion, both 

 practical and. theoretical, for and against telegony; and that a re- 

 investigation of the subject is urgently needed. Such a reinvestigation 

 has been begun by Professor Ewart at Penycuik. Since the clearest 

 and most definite evidence of this throwing back to a previous sire is 

 derived from the crossing of different species of the Equidae, it was 

 desirable to repeat the experiment of Lord Morton. This is now 

 unfortunately impossible, because the quagga is extinct. The zebra is, 

 however, still with us, and the mating of a zebra stallion with every 

 variety of horse, pony, and ass, and subsequently putting the dam to 

 pure-bred -sires, has been the more important part of the numerous 

 experiments carried on in the Midlothian village some ten miles south- 

 west of Edinburgh. 



Before considering in detail the result of the experiments 'it will 

 be necessary to say a few words on the question of the various species 

 of zebra; and since, like Weismann, Professor Ewart explains certain of 

 the phenomena attributed- to telegony by reversion, it will be as well 

 to inquire how far reversion is known among the Equidae, and what 

 evidence we have that the ancestor of the horse was striped. 



Matopo, the zebra stallion from which Professor Ewart had up 

 to last midsummer bred eleven zebra-hybrids from mares of various 

 breeds and sizes, belongs to the widely distributed group of Burchell*s 

 zebras. Many subspecies or varieties are included in this group, which, 

 as regards the pattern of the stripes, passes — in certain varieties found 



