Balfour, Alice Blanche, 1850-1936 (sister of 1st Earl of Balfour)

Located in Roslin Institute Staff Papers 1993. Part 1.

Balfour writes that she is enclosing some pages of a pamphlet relating to the hybridisation of plants and the connections with animal cross-breeding (pamphlet not present). She also mentions hearing that 'Romulus (Ewart's first zebra hybrid foal) has been taken away from you under rather trying circumstances.'

Balfour states that she is returning Carl Hagenbeck's letter to Ewart. She states she has also written to Lord Stanley in connection with Ewart's hybrids in an attempt to persuade him to purchase them. She also enquires whether, during his experiments, he has noticed if offspring from two different species of horse, with strong markings, hark back to a more ancestral type. She enquires whether the mustang is a descendant of the Spanish horse.

Balfour enquires whether she should write to Lord Kitchener and Lord Hamilton.

Balfour thanks Ewart for sending her some photographs of zebra skins to look at. She also offers to help to pay for some of Ewart's experiments.

Balfour expresses her hope that the Highland and Agricultural Society gives him a grant to continue his experiments and thanks Ewart for accepting her financial assistance. She goes on to discuss the 'infection' of telegony and the positioning of animal markings and gradations in colour on zebras and horses.

Balfour writes regarding the possible publication of a German pamphlet by Professor Von Nathusius in the Veterinarian. She now believes she can have it translated by Sir Walter Rothschild at Tring in Hertfordshire. She goes on to discuss the markings of a particular breed of zebra from Zululand, and whether its unusual pattern has any bearing on the history of markings in general.

Balfour refers to photographs of a zebra skin she sent to Sir George Grey, who is presently staying in a British Central area of Africa, South of the Congo. She believes the skin to be from a Burchell's zebra. She also refers to a Tibetan pony belonging to Major L.A Waddell.

Balfour writes regarding Ewart's wish to obtain a particular type of horse from Norway. Lord Walter Rothschild has suggested that he might contact Ethelbert Lort-Phillips who is interested in scientific natural history and is often in Norway.