Scope and Contents Elwes writes from Shetland that he has not been able to find Cowan a grey ram but he has seen two tup lambs in Mr Gordon's flock which may prove to be the right colour. He reports that all the Shetlanders he spoke to inform him that the pure Shetland sheep can hardly be found now, but there are many sheep among the white and moorit which if carefully selected, bred and pastured, can be just as good. He is sure that breeding Shetland sheep could be a lucrative business, although he fears they...

Scope and Contents Ewart writes from Lerwick, Shetland, that he would be happy to arrange to keep the 15 ewes and lambs at Fairslacks for a year at a fair price, although it will be best not to add to the permanent stock until the farm is taken over by the University in October or November that year. At an exhibition on Shetland he saw a ewe as small as the one in the British Museum from Papa Stour with goat-like horns and a very short tail, as well as a hornless, short-tailed ewe with white patches at Foula;...

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Elwes writes that he has looked over the ram and proposes to send it to Edinburgh Zoo or to Ewart if he wishes to have it, as well as the horned white ram that he bought as an Icelander. He wonders if the Edinburgh Museum would like to have his best old Hebridean. He describes the sheep crosses he is planning to conduct.

Letter is undated but marked 'Sunday'.

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Elwes mentions an interesting breed of sheep called 'Neerie sheep' he has heard of from Harvie-Brown, as well as another breed, 'dun-faced sheep', which he has read about. He will write to Switzerland for information on a race of Swiss sheep which appears to resemble the Soay sheep and may be a direct descendent of a primeval Swiss breed.

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Elwes reports that Hall, a mutual acquaintance, approves of Ewart's paper and feels that it paves the way for something on a larger scale later. Elwes has received a pair of Rocky sheep, and asks Ewart if he wants a long-tailed black Welsh ram lamb. He has heard that the Board of Agriculture are trying to get a farm where animals for exporting will be tested for tuberculosis and imported animals received in quarantine.

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Elwes asks for feedback on his notes on Ewart's sheep, which he intends to publish. He stresses the importance of photographing the sheep, as well as taking the measurements of the weights and lengths of the fleeces. He will send the black ram lamb to Ewart shortly.

The year is not written on the letter.

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Elwes writes that Lord Fortescue had not mentioned his sheep's Eastern origin, but that he will provide further particulars if requested. He also encloses a photograph of the white Welsh ram 'Twm Shon Dafydd 4th'.

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Elwes writes concerning the restrictions on his sheep leaving England to be tupped, and urgently asks when Ewart can send his fat-tailed ram. He also enquires whether Ewart thinks a curly lamb could be produced by crossing a Wensleydale with a white Shetland sheep.

The year is not written on the letter.

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Elwes enquires whether Ewart thinks it worthwhile to import any sheep from the Faroes, and if so, could Lord Bute or Cowan take them, as he has no room. He refers to a letter from a Mrs Taylor which mentions crossing a fox-coloured ram with a black ewe. He reports that Ewart's Blackfaces are the most profitable of his sheep so far, except for their wool. He will be selling the remainder of Ewart's hoggs.

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Elwes writes that he is enclosing a letter from Heatley Noble about the pied sheep (letter not present) of which he showed Ewart photographs and remarks on the interesting point he makes about the crosses always coming out black. If this can be verified, Elwes will get his tup from the Shetland flock to cross with him on other breeds. He also provides a list of crosses he proposes to make and asks for Ewart's advice.

The year is not written on the letter.