32 HEREDITY 



But further very careful experiments have failed to 

 produce any evidence whatever of telegony. Ewart 

 carried out very extensive experiments with zebras and 

 horses, and obtained no positive results. Pearson has 

 investigated the matter statistically and has also ob- 

 tained purely negative evidence. One is naturally chary 

 of condemning a belief which is widely held by practical 

 men, but in the total absence of trustworthy cases, one 

 must conclude that telegony is probably a myth. 



The second subject is that of maternal impressions. 

 There is a common belief that anything which very 

 strongly affects the imagination of a pregnant mother 

 may have a visible effect on the body of the offspring. 

 This belief is exceedingly old, for we have the case of 

 Jacob setting up peeled wands in front of his cattle, in 

 order to increase the number of speckled cattle, which 

 he was to receive. A similar practice is said to have 

 been followed by certain cattle-breeders in compara- 

 tively modern times. An instance is quoted of a 

 pregnant woman having been frightened by an adder, 

 with the result that her child, when born, had a birth- 

 mark on its back suggesting the form of a snake. 



But, again, it must be said that a few such cases, 

 which may be partly imaginary, and may, when they 

 are real, be mere coincidences, prove nothing ; and that 

 carefully planned experiments have always failed to 

 bring forth positive evidence. As regards mental 

 characters, it is perhaps remotely possible that the 

 mother might be able to exert some hypnotic influence 

 on the mind of the unborn child. But the evidence 

 at present justifies no position but that of complete 

 scepticism. 



