rate the efficacy of pollen
in this respect; for in the case of hybridised plants it might be argued
that an embryo had been formed and had affected the surrounding tissues of
the mother-plant before it perished at a very early age. Again, it is well
known that with many plants the ovarium may be fully developed, though
pollen be wholly excluded. And lastly, Mr. Smith, the late Curator at Kew
(as I hear through Dr. Hooker), observed the singular fact with an orchid,
the _Bonatea speciosa_, the development of the ovarium could be effected by
mechanical irritation of the stigma. Nevertheless, from the number of the
pollen-grains expended "in the satiation of the ovarium and pistil,"--from
the generality of the formation of the ovarium and seed-coats in sterile
hybridised plants,--and from Dr. Hildebrand's observations on orchids, we
may admit that in most cases the swelling of the ovarium, and the formation
of the seed-coats, are at least aided, if not wholly caused, by the direct
action of the pollen, independently of the intervention of the fertilised
germ. Therefore, in the previously-given cases we have only to add to our
belief in the power of the plant's own pollen on the development of the
ovarium and seed-coats, its further power, when applied to a distinct
species or variety, of influencing the shape, size, colour, texture, &c.,
of these same parts.

* * * * *

Turning now to the animal kingdom. If we could imagine the same flower to
yield seeds during successive years, then it would not be very surprising
that a flower of which the ovarium had been modified by foreign pollen
should next year produce, when self-fertilised, offspring modified by the
previous male influence. Closely analogous cases have actually occurred
with animals. In the case often quoted from Lord Morton,[949] a nearly
purely-bred, Arabian, chesnut mare bore a hybrid to a quagga; she was
subsequently sent to Sir Gore Ouseley, and produced {404} two colts by a
black Arabian horse. These colts were partially dun-coloured, and were
striped on the legs more plainly than the real hybrid, or even than the
quagga. One of the two colts had its neck and some other parts of its body
plainly marked with stripes. Stripes on the body, not to mention those on
the legs, and the dun-colour, are extremely rare,--I speak after having
long attended to the subject,--with horses of all kinds in Europe, and are
unknown in the case of