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Ewart thanks Elwes for the wool samples and the details about the Austrian Skemschaf. The four sheep have not yet arrived from Greystoke, but he doubts they are allowed into Scotland yet. Cowan is coming to see the Shetland ram from Fairisle and that he will use it with Elwes' ewes if it is judged to be better than Alexander's ram.

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Elwes provides some details of the 'dun-faced sheep' and suggests that Ewart impress on Claud Alexander the importance of photographing the results of his cross-breeding experiments, rather than breeding indiscriminately. He mentions the research of Professor Keller on the Bündner sheep of Switzerland and R.F Scharff in Ireland. He hopes to visit Ewart before going to Shetland.

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Elwes writes that he has bought some sheep from Claud Alexander, and that he will keep the sheep on Ewart's account on his estate until Ewart wants them. He suggests that it would be preferable if Ewart's fat-tailed ram would be sent to himself, and asks whether he received the Shetlands from Greystoke. He thinks he had now better not come to Dundee as he wishes to superintend the earmarking of his new sheep.

The year is not written on the letter.

Scope and Contents Alexander writes that the skulls of the Somerford white polled cattle are the same as the Newstead skull. He makes observations on the polls of his horned Somerford cows, the Shorthorn and a Hamilton bull and states that he will embark on some experiments with zebras, as he is interested in the possible relation of zebras and Bos primigenius, suggesting that the Romans may have possibly imported them. He will ask a friend to compare the skulls of the Norfolk red...

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Alexander is relieved that Elwes enjoyed inspecting his sheep, although he considers Elwes' aim of trying to manufacture a breed of sheep with the hardiness of Welsh and the size and fleece of Lincoln longwools to be an impossibility. He reports the birth of a fat-tailed ram lamb out of his best ewe. Ewart should treat Mr [Guracy?]'s letter with caution, as he is an untrained observer and Alexander has known him to make errors.

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Alexander confirms the arrangements for Mr and Mrs Ewart's short visit and comments that he must try and sell Elwes some sheep.

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Alexander asks whether Ewart still wants to purchase some sheep from him, and makes suggestions for shipping arrangements.

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Alexander writes that he cannot afford to buy Ewart's clouded leopard but that Ewart should not let her go too cheaply. He offers his young Mysore bull to Ewart's Celtic shorthorn, and will try to get a photograph of the hybrid and provides details about piebald lambs.

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Alexander asks whether Ewart still has the Przewalski's colt, as his own colt is ill. He reports that his various sheep flocks are looking their best, and that he wishes Ewart would try on Mendelian lines to get rid of the wool on tame sheep by crossing with wild ones.

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Alexander reports that his colt is dead. He believes he has enough evidence to prove that in the matter of wool, sheep are not Mendelian, and provides details from his own breeding experiments.