MERISTIC VARIATION 



53 



Besides sheep Bateson gives three specific cases of increase in 

 the number of horns, as follows: (i) a family of goats in which 

 the four-horned character was hereditary for " many genera- 

 tions " ; (2) chamois with two " well-formed and sym- 

 metrical extra horns " ; (3) roebuck, two specimens of 

 which are figured. Of these one has two horns on one 



FIG. 8. Abnormal horns in roebuck : all but one have undergone meristic 

 variation. After Bateson 



side and three on the opposite side, while the other has three on 

 one side, the other being normal, consisting of a single horn 

 with one prong near the summit (see Fig. 8). 



Meristic variation in digits. 1 Variations in these parts are 

 peculiarly complex. There may be an increase or a decrease 

 not only in the total number but also in the parts or joints that 

 compose the several members. 



The best example covering both these points in the same 

 individual is Bateson's No. 485.2 In this case the right hand 



1 Bateson, Materials, etc., pp. 311-410. 



2 Ibid. p. 327. 



