Chap. XIV. SUMMAKY. 61 



Finally, though much remains obscure with respect to In- 

 heritance, we may look at the following laws as fairly well 

 established. Firstly, a tendency in every character, new and J , 

 old, to be transmitted by seminal and bud generation, though 

 often counteracted by various known and unknown causes. 

 Secondly, reversion or atavism, which depends on transmis- ? , 

 sion and development being distinct powers : it acts in 

 various degrees and manners through both seminal and bud 

 generation. Thirdly, prepotency of transmission, which $'. 

 may be confined to one sex, or be common to both sexes. 

 Fourthly, transmission, as limited by sex, generally to the J 

 same sex in which the inherited character first appeared ; 

 and this in many, probably most cases, depends on the 

 new character having first appeared at a rather late period $. 

 of life. Fifthly, inheritance at corresponding periods of life, 

 with some tendency to the earlier development of the 

 inherited character. In these laws of Inheritance, as dis- 

 played under domestication, we see an ample provision for 

 the production, through variability and natural selection, of 

 new specific forms. 



