256 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Punnett,* one appears to get but little information on this point, 

 that is, as regards the why and wherefore, as one does from 

 Darwinism. Neither does one discover much regarding such 

 matters as hybridism and relationship ; that is, touching such 

 details as I have raised in this paper. 



Considering the abstruse cases which have, when brought 

 forward as antagonistic to Mendelism, proved amenable to its 

 laws, one hesitates to dogmatise unduly ; still, there are cases 

 which Mendelism apparently does not solve, and it is possible 

 that, were experiments more general between divergent natural 

 species (animals) instead of between domestic varieties, these 

 incomprehensible (?) cases would be largely increased. As the 

 matter is of considerable importance, I will quote some cases 

 from the writings of Bateson.t 



De Vries is stated to have found out that (Enothera muricata 

 + 0. biennis gives hybrids breeding true to the intermediate 

 forms of the first crossed generation. Professor Bateson com- 

 ments as follows X :-- 



" The hybrids were partially sterile in a high degree, but the 

 subsequent generations raised from them showed no definite 

 departure from the F 1 type. The evidence as it stands must 

 be taken as constituting a definite exception " [to segregation] . 

 " Nevertheless, in view of the great sterility exhibited by the 

 hybrids, and the fact that all that we know of the (Enothera 

 crosses points to the existence of very unusual features in their 

 genetic physiology, the significance of this curious observation 

 is still somewhat problematical." 



The fact that the hybrids are partially sterile is to my mind 

 very suggestive, as it will probably prove to be to those who 

 agree with my argument. 



Other instances similar or somewhat similar to the above are 

 found in Homo (Mulatto), Lepus (Lop-eared Eabbit), Acidalia 

 (Moth), Pararge (Butterfly), and Anemone (plant). Want of 

 space must preclude my referring to these cases at any length, 

 except to state that they appear to support my argument. 



It is regrettable that more experiments are not tried with the 



* ' Mendelism.' 



f • Mendel's Principles of Heredity.' 



I Loc. cit. p. 250. 



