 Shepherd’s idea is that the evidence that the object in question is an apple should be weighed by the known regularity with which traits T belong to exciting causes that are apples. If the known regularity is unfailing, the evidence on hand makes it highly probable that the object in question is an apple and will behave in all circumstances as apples do. In case the known regularity of the union of T and an apple holds in some, but not all cases, the probability that the object is an apple conferred by the evidence should be proportioned to the ratio of the number of particular cases in which the regularity holds to the number of cases with traits T; this might involve ratios such as that between apples and pears in our area. Shepherd says we should be skeptical that the conjunction of T with apples holds in a particular case, but the degree of skepticism should be no greater than the irregularity of their conjunction. Yet it is possible that an apple might not exhibit some qualities in the definition of an apple because, although the difference would have a cause, the circumstances might indicate conjunction with a miraculous act intended for a certain end (EASP: 144–7). 