VARIATION 37 



d. Lastly, Bateson, whose work "On Materials for 

 the Study of Variation" already cited is a classic, 

 takes the agnostic attitude that it is rather futile to 

 guess at the causes of variation before the facts are 

 well in hand. He consequently discourages such at- 

 tempts by saying: "Inquiry into the causes of varia- 

 tion is, in my judgment, premature." 



In conclusion, the words of Darwin written over half 

 a century ago : "Our ignorance of the laws of variation 

 is profound," may still be appropriately quoted, not- 

 withstanding the fact that in biometry we have at least 

 an excellent analytical method by means of which con- 

 siderable insight into variation is being gained. 



