258 PRZSTDEXTIAL ADDRESS. 



characteristics. (2) The characters of the parents may blend 

 in the offspring, the characteristics of which will be the 

 means or averages of the parental characteristics. (3) The 

 characters of the parents may, so to speak, conspire, so that 

 a strong characteristic in each parent may be yet stronger in 

 the offsjDring, and a weak characteristic yet weaker. (4) The 

 characters of the parents may combine, so that from the 

 union of characteristics derived from the two parents a new 

 and slightly different characteristic may be produced. 



It is probable that all four methods occur in nature. Mr. 

 Galton has pointed out that exclusive inheritance is the rule 

 with such characters as the colour of the eyes. It is also 

 exemplified in the Ancon breed of sheep. Blending is pro- 

 bably very common. Breeders of domestic animals seem to 

 regard the fact that characters conspire and strengthen in 

 the offspring as in some cases established. And the com- 

 bination of characters to give rise to new developments must 

 have taken place again and again, unless we are to look out- 

 side parental commixture for a source of origin ; for other- 

 wise no such new developments could have arisen. 



It may be said that such new developments are of for- 

 tuitous or chance origin. The term is perhaps convenient 

 for expressing a mode of origin of which we at present know 

 absolutely nothing. But it clearly does not open up any 

 field for discussion or for observation. 



And if we say that determinate variations under the in- 

 fluence of environment or through parental commixture are 

 due to laws of organization, the only practical value of such 

 a suggestion will be that it may induce us to try and ascer- 

 tain what these laws of organization are. If the phrase is 

 less misleading for students and the general public than 

 " fortuitous origin," in that it implies a causal nexus, it will 

 be perhaps more misleading if it should lead to the supposi- 



