Ridgeway, Sir William, 1853-1926 (classicist and Disney professor of archaeology, University of Cambridge (England))

Ridgeway thanks Ewart for the critique of his manuscript and offers some opinions concerning the history and characteristics of the pony Tarpan redivivus and elaborates on prehistoric horses. He makes some remarks about editorial and spelling matters and discusses the sounds made by the Kiang and Onager ponies.

Ridgeway writes that he will write to Sanson for details of his North African horses. He thanks Ewart for his help with proofreading and for the loan of his illustrative blocks.

Ridgeway asks if there is a chance of seeing Ewart in Cambridge before his University session begins in October. He reports that his book has gone to press and that he has incorporated the results of Ewart's experiments with the Kiang horse. He reports on his visit to Southport for a British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting.

Ridgeway reports that he has seen Shipley about the ponies and encloses his letter (not present). He arranges to meet Ewart in London and hopes that he will get a grant from the London committee.

Ridgeway states that it is most probable that the Libyan horse in a wild state had more strongly defined stripes than when domesticated and refers to Azara's example of wild and tame cattle in South America differing in colours. He writes that if Ewart agrees he will insert this into the revised last chapter of his book. He has heard that Pocock is going to publish the bay quagga as a new variety or species and asks Ewart to send him an illustrative block of the Hebridean stallion.

Ridgeway provides some details about historical accounts of the first horses brought into Mexico and Texas by the Spaniards, in preparation for Ewart's visit to Mexico. He also passes on information from a local farmer, John Thornton, about bronchos in Mexico, and Hans Gadow about dun and roan horses. He congratulates Ewart on his forthcoming marriage.

The latter part of the letter is not present. The letter also bears the incorrect date of 1905.

Ridgeway provides an extract from a letter he received from George Coffey concerning the earliest horse skeleton of historical times discovered in County Galway, Ireland and makes some comments concerning the likely date of the burial.

Ridgeway thanks Ewart for permission to use Ewart's drawings and photographs in his book, particularly of the Iceland and Hebridean pony, and states that he will send Ewart the manuscript proofs soon.