NATJDIN— ON HYBRIDISM. 9 



that which we have demonstrated amongst hybrids. While in 

 these last the form dissolves, from one generation to another, into 

 individual and unpersistent variations, in the pure species, on the 

 contrary, the variation has a tendency to perpetuate itself and to 

 increase. When it is produced, one of two things takes place, 

 either it disappears with the individual in which it took rise, or it 

 is transmitted without alteration to the following generation, and 

 from thence, if circumstances are favourable, and no crossing with 

 the type of the species or with another variety disturbs it in its 

 evolution, it passes into the condition of a definite race, and im- 

 presses its seal on an unlimited number of individuals. It is thus 

 that I explain the formation of those well-marked races of econo- 

 mical vegetables, so homogeneous and so stable, of which cultiva- 

 tion has beheld the origin, and which it preserves with so much 

 care. If we consider only the regularity of their progress, we 

 should take them for real species ; but their instability, when they 

 are submitted to the chance of crossing, testifies their real nature. 

 They are not species in the botanical sense of the word, they are 

 categories in a larger species, or, if you will, confraternities of 

 individuals similar in organization, and having a uniform livery. 

 This homogeneousness and fixity of character are the distinctive 

 mark of true races, as diversity and want of permanence are the 

 mark of agglomerations arising from half-blood or hybridity. The 

 latter, tainted with illegitimacy, are the fruit of irregular varia- 

 tion, the former of the regulated and normal variation of the 

 species. I could even say more willingly that they are the 

 species itself adapting itself to new media and new finalities. 



I know not if facts analogous to those which I have just re- 

 ported have been observed in the animal kingdom ; but I should 

 not be surprised if we came some day to recognize that there also 

 crossings between definite races are a cause of variability per- 

 fectly individual, and that they are impotent to create new races, 

 that is to say, uniform fellowships, and capable of enduring in- 

 finitely. It would certainly Dot be without interest, if, when in- 

 termarrying, races perfectly distinct should melt into a new mixed 

 but homogeneous race; or if, as in plants, the crossing should 

 have the effect of infinitely diversifying physiognomies and tem- 

 peraments. But it is a subject for which I am not competent, and 

 which I hasten to leave to professional zoologists. 



