University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Scope and Contents Ewart writes that the examination of the skulls from the Roman fort near Melrose has proved that horses representing four distinct varieties or species were living under domestication during the first century. The Zoology Board of the Royal Society Government Grant Committee have started an investigation to ascertain the origins of various species of horse by examining bones and cross-breeding. Ewart requests Russell's financial help with meeting the costs of this investigation....

Scope and Contents Irving asks Ewart for his opinion of the paper concerning the Equus robustus horse type, and encloses a copy of the Section D paper from the British Association. He reports that he saw and handled the horse tooth found in the Piltdown gravels, and he believes it to be part of Equus robustus. He wonders whether it would be worth a short note in Nature, and wonders how far back Equus...

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Plumb asks Ewart for a copy of a paper which he presented to the Royal Society in 1902 on a new species of horse. He mentions that he has used lantern slides in his own lectures showing some of Ewart's work on telegony and regrets not introducing himself to Ewart at the Royal Agricultural Show at York in 1900. He mentions his own work in the instruction in breeds, breeding, feeding and management of domestic animals at Ohio State University.

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Lönnberg states that he has at last been able to begin an investigation into what he believes to be the oldest and least mixed horse-type in Sweden, the 'shogs-russ' ('forest horse'), and provides some information about it. He asks for Ewart's opinion on whether he agrees that it is more likely to have the blood of steppe horses than any other kind.

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Osborn states that the pony has arrived safely in New York. He will have the animal photographed for Ewart soon. He mentions not having read the papers by Mendel and Bateson. He announces that he will be writing to the Duke of Bedford to say that he would be interested in receiving the skeleton of one of his Russian horses if one should die. He also states that James Gidley is revising the species of their miocene, and he criticises Othniel Charles Marsh's phylogeny.

Scope and Contents Osborn reports the safe arrival of the Equus caballus and Equus caballus celticus. He feels strongly that the Museum should have Ewart's original type specimen of Equus caballus celticus because it agrees more closely with his original characterisation of the species in the small size of the head. He asks whether it would be practical to have the skin removed and the skeleton sent to them, as the specimen Ewart...

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Osborn writes that he will shortly send Ewart a revision of the Equidae, which he calls 'a dry, exhausting piece of work, which is, however, absolutely essential for the more interesting monograph which I trust will follow one day.' He reports that the Celtic pony is now in full coat and is not typical. As it lacks many of the specific characters on which Ewart established the subspecies, he requests again the skeleton and skin of the type.

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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.

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Blunt quotes from an article he is writing for the Encyclopaedia of Sport where he discusses the possible origins of the species of Arabian wild horse called 'Kehailan'. He asks if he Ewart can direct him to any of his (Ewart's) publications about this case which he can cite in the article.