460 BUMPUS. [Vot. XII. 
Of 2 specimens with 43 vertebrz, 100% are homeotic. 
“ 9 “ “c 44 7 33% 66 “ 
“ ay “ “ 45 6c 19% “ “ 
6“ 18 “ “cs 46 “ 29% “ “ 
“ 14 “ “ 47 “ 36% “ “ 
a “ 16 “ “ 48 “ 44% “ “ 
Tt “ “ 49 ‘“ 45% Cue “ 
“ 5 “ “ 50 T7 60%, “ 6“ 
“ 4 “ “ 51 “ 50% “ “ 
A profile curve, or ‘curve of frequency ’”’ (Galton, ’89), illus- 
trating the relative distribution of the several columns accord- 
ing to their vertebral enumeration, is drawn in dots at the right 
of Plate C, the length of the ordinates being determined by the 
number of the specimens having respectively 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 
48, 49, 50, and 51 vertebrae. If now the respective per cents 
of homeeotic individuals in each series be represented by a red 
curve on the same ordinates, we will observe that as the first 
curve ascends to its culminating point the second curve 
descends, the ordinate 45 bearing the highest point of the 
first curve and the lowest point of the second. To the right 
of this ordinate the curves converge in approximately the same 
way as they primarily diverged.t 
The conclusion that specimens presenting extremes of meris- 
tic vertebral variation tend towards homeeosis is irresistible, 
and the third question of the first section is answered in the 
affirmative. 
Section II. 
- 
Is there a ratio between the absolute length of the animal 
and the number of the vertebrz ? 
As before mentioned, the animals are arranged on Plate C, 
the smaller toward the left and the larger toward the right. 
The curve of relative lengths, drawn in red, passes from the 
specimen No. 1 at the left, with a length of only 193 mm., 
1 The small dotted curve in red is drawn on the following scale. On abscissa 
43 a dot is placed ten squares above the line which forms the right margin, 
and these ten squares are taken as representing the 100% of homeeotic individuals 
having 43 vertebre. The curve then follows the respective altitudes of 33%, 19%, 
29%, 36%, 44%, 45%, 60%, and 50% on the abscissas of 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 
and 51. I regret that the print does not make the course of this curve perfectly 
clear. 
