58 TELEGONY AND REVERSION, 



who maintains that natural selection has been the only 

 influence at work in the evolution of all except the simple 

 unicellular organisms, has shown that the evidence in 

 favour of the transmission of acquired characters is in 

 many cases worthless, and in no case convincing.* In 

 discussing the '^ infection^' theory in 1893, Weismannf 

 pointed out that new experiments after the manner of 

 Lord Morton's were needed, and that they could "be best 

 made in zoological gardens." J 



Having failed to induce zoological or other societies to 

 take part in repeating Lord Morton's experiment — work 

 which it was generally admitted should be u.ndertaken 

 without further delay, — I decided in 1894 to start on my 

 own account a number of investigations bearing more or 

 less directly on telegony. I knew that numerous experi- 

 ments on this subject had yielded negative results, and 

 that some biologists held that such inquiries were all but 

 useless. On the other hand, I believed that by working 

 with zebras and horses I should obtain more decided results, 

 one way or the other, than with any other mammals, and 

 that, apart from any possible scientific gain, it was worth 

 while for various reasons attempting to produce hybrids be- 

 tween zebras and certain breeds of horses. § I now propose 

 stating shortly the results of the experiments, as far as 

 they directly or indirectly bear on telegony and on rever- 

 sion or atavism. But before doing this it will be advisable 

 to discuss Lord Morton's experiment, and refer to the 



* See also Piatt Ball, ' The Effects of Use and Disuse,' iSOO. 



t ' The Germ-plasm ' (Contemporary Science Series). 



J Perhaps the time may come when systematic experiments of this kind 

 will be one of tiie characteristic features of the Regent's Park and other 

 zoological gardens, or when an experimental station will be founded in 

 memory of Darwin. 



§ There seems little chance of rendering horses immune to the bite of 

 the tsetse fly, but zebra hybrids may withstand it ; those I have already 

 bred seem uncommonly hardy. Further, hybrids between zebras and 

 English or other mares may be found invaluable in various parts of the 

 Empire. I have one that looks as if it would by-and-by be well adapted 

 for a mountain battery. 



