Monstrosities 427 



yellowish, with only scarcely perceptible traces 

 of green along the veins. Some are very old 

 cultivated varieties, as the wintercress, or Bar- 

 bar ea vulgaris. They continuously sport into 

 green, or return from this normal color, both by 

 seeds and by buds. Sports of this kind are 

 very often seen on shrubs or low trees, and 

 they may remain there and develop during a 

 long series of years. Bud-sports of variegated 

 holly, elms, chestnuts, beeches and others might 

 be cited. One-sided variegation on leaves or 

 twigs with the opposite side wholly green are 

 by no means rare. It is very curious to note 

 that variegation is perhaps the most universally 

 known anomaly, while its hereditary tendencies 

 are least known. 



Cristate and plumose ferns are another in- 

 stance. Half races or rare accidental cleavages 

 seem to be as common with ferns as cultivated 

 double races, which are very rich in beautiful 

 crests. But much depends on cultivation. It 

 seems that the spores of crested leaves are more 

 apt to reproduce the variety than those of nor- 

 mal leaves, or even of normal parts of the same 

 leaves. But the experiments on which 

 this assertion is made are old and should 

 be repeated. Other cases of cleft leaves should 

 also be tested. Ascidia are far more common 

 than is usually believed. Rare instances point 



