University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Mettam thanks Ewart for the reprint of his work on the three weeks foetus, and looks forward to further work on the development of the horse. He wonders whether Professor Robinson will give him a copy of his publication on the model constructed from the sections of the foetus.

Alexander writes that his friend Tyrwhitt-Drake, the secretary of the Menagerie Club, is coming to Edinburgh and would like to meet Ewart. He also reports that he thinks both his ponies are in foal and that the colt is now very quiet to ride.

Oliphant thanks Ewart for some photographs and apologises for not having replied earlier. He states he will try and send Ewart a photograph of a horse and keep him informed of whether the zebra, which he has cross-bred with a horse, is likely to foal.

Leach thanks Ewart for the book on the development of the horse. He wonders why mares even after foaling do not get stinted so easily in cold weather as in mild, and why maiden mares do not come into season or get in foal until the end of March or early April and postulates that the cold retards development.

Wrench explains that at his stud farm they have 15 Connemara pony mares (nine of which are in foal to an Arab and two to a Connemara stallion) and two Erris ponies (in foal to a thoroughbred). This season they plan to mix the pairings and the results of the couplings will be carefully monitored. He believes that the Arab is an exceptional horse, bettered only by the winner at the Paris Exhibition. He adds that Wilfred Blunt's pony that competed against it looked quite plain in comparison.

Catchpole enquires whether copies of Ewart's pamphlet 'A critical period in the development of the horse' are still available, as he is working on problems surrounding the appearance during early pregnancy of sex hormones in the blood stream of the mare.

The writer asks Ewart to give her advance notice of his visit, and mentions that she had an Arab mare in foal.

The author's signature is unclear.

Alexander asks whether Ewart wishes to purchase a Mysore bull from him. He is lame but well-behaved, and Alexander would take £10 to save him from going to the butcher. He reports that his filly was hard to handle but is settling down, while her dam should foal soon although she has not wintered well and looks in poor condition. He complains that his pair of Pallas's cats are not healthy.

Allison agrees with Ewart about the importance of nutrition in a horse's pregnancy, and supplies information relating to two mares from Ireland. He makes an observation regarding British thoroughbred horses and their lack of robustness due to their breeding habits, comments on various Australian thoroughbreds and reveals his experiences of fox terrier breeding.

Herdman thanks Ewart for his memoir on the 'third week horse'.

The year is not written on the letter.