NAUDIN 171 



character of one species (A), whilst others will bear 

 no potential resemblance to A, but will be precisely 

 similar in nature to the ovules and pollen grains of 

 the pure species B. In cases where this separation of 

 the materials representing the two types in a potential 

 condition is complete, forms exactly resembling the 

 parents might be obtained. As we shall see, this 

 hypothesis makes a remarkably near approach to that 

 of Mendel ; and the importance of the fact that the 

 first hybrid generation is generally uniform, as con- 

 trasted with the diversity of types often appearing 

 in the second generation, is clearly recognised by 

 Naudin. This observer considered the hybrid in the 

 adult state to consist of an aggregate of particles, 

 homogeneous and characteristic of a single species 

 when taken separately, but mingled in various pro- 

 portions in the organs of the hybrid, which is thus 

 looked upon as a kind of living mosaic. 



Great numbers of observations upon the character- 

 istics and behaviour of hybrid plants and animals have 

 been from time to time recorded, and the preceding 

 pages contain only a brief selection of such facts as 

 are most necessary for a proper understanding of 

 modern work in hybridization. Until quite recently 

 the laws of transmission of characters in hybrids were 

 still completely hidden. The facts were wonderful 

 enough, but they showed no signs of falling into an 

 orderly arrangement. In the next chapter it will be 

 our business to describe the remarkable discovery 

 which has introduced order into this previously chaotic 

 region, and which has enabled a few workers to estab- 



