ANCESTRAL INFLUENCE. ^3 



antagonistic influence being withdrawn they manifest 

 themselves. A French writer on Physiology says, if 

 there is not inheritance of paternal characteristics, there 

 is at least an aptitude to inherit them, a disposition to 

 reproduce them ; and there is always a transmission of 

 this aptitude to some new descendants, among whom 

 these traits will manifest themselves sooner or later.* 

 Mr. Singer, let us say, has a remarkable aptitude for 

 music ; but the influence of Mrs. Singer is such that 

 their children inheriting her imperfect ear, manifest no 

 musical talent whatever. These children however have 

 inherited the disposition of the father in spite of its 

 non-manifestation ; and if, when they transmit what in 

 them is latent, the influence of their wives is favorable, 

 the grand-children may turn out musically gifted. 



The lesson taught by the law of atavism is very plain. 

 It shows the importance of seeking "thorough-bred" 

 or ''well-bred" animals ; and by these terms are simply 

 meant such as are descended from a line of ancestors in 

 which for many generations the desirable forms, quali- 

 ties and characteristics have been uniformly shown. In 

 such a case, even if ancestral influence does come in 



* " S'il n'y a pas heritage des caracteres paternels il y a done au 

 moins aptitude k en heriter, disposition a. les reproduire, et toujoux's 

 cette transmission de cette aptitude a des noveau descendants, cliez 

 lesquels ces memes caracteres se manifesteront tot ou tard." — LongeVs 

 " Traite de Physiologic,'' ii: 133. 



