Es lässt sich zeigen, dass die Zahl der Hybriden, welche aus einer Befruchtung stammen, gegen die Anzahl der constant gewordenen Formen und ihrer Nachkommen von Generation zu Generation um ein Bedeutendes zurückbleibt, ohne dass sie jedoch ganz verschwinden könnten.
It can be shown that the number of hybrids originating from a fertilisation falls behind from generation to generation by a significant portion in relation to the number of forms having become constant and their descendants, without being able to disappear completely however.
forms having become constant = constant gewordenen Formen on “constant forms” see p. 15, s. 7.
generation = Generation See See p. 3, s. 8.
falls behind = zurückbleiben Bateson has “diminishing”, Sherwood “decrease”. However, zurückbleiben (literally “to remain behind”) implies a decrease in relative numbers only. In fact, the example that Mendel goes on to develop on the basis of the assumption that each plant produces four offspring shows clearly that the absolute number of hybrid individuals rises acording to his model. This is also why the hybrids can never vanish completely from the population; for a discussion see Amir Teicher, “Mendel’s use of mathematical modelling: ratios, predictions and the appeal to tradition”, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences 36 (2014), pp. 187–208.