Chap. XIV. SUMMARY. 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 

 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 

 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. 



