246 Retrograde Varieties 



in the species in the latent state, and to the oc- 

 casional re-energizhig thereof. 



Specific or varietal latency is not the same 

 thing as the ordinary latency of characters that 

 only await their period of activity, or the ex- 

 ternal influence which will awake them. They 

 are permanently latent, and could well be des- 

 ignated by the word perlatent. They spring 

 into activity only by some sudden leap, and then 

 at once become independent of ordinary exter- 

 nal stimulation. 



