Elwes writes that he has heard that the sheep at Greystoke will be transported once the restrictions in Peebles are lifted. He recommends that Ewart take a photograph of the Foula ewes while they are alive. He is buying some of Lort's Manx and Manx-Soay crosses, and a black bull with a broad white belt. He would like to put his fat-tailed ewes to Ewart's fat-tailed ram.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes thanks Ewart and his wife for their hospitality. He asks Ewart to let him know when he can spare the ram, as he will need to buy some spotted ewes for him as well as keep his fat-tails, and does not want to be any later than 10th October.

The letter is undated.

Elwes recommends that Ewart keeps the fat-tailed ram in a shed and that the shepherd assists him when the ewes are brought to him. Elwes recommends where Ewart can get some spotted ewes, his own having all been served. He recommends how Ewart might freshen up the soil of his farm.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes writes that he is away in South France and that two men in Algeria informed him that in Morocco there is a race of sheep which could be the origin of the Spanish Merino, and that the spotted sheep are much like a breed which now exists in the Constantine province and which occasionally has four horns. He has seen three or four more or less distinct breeds of sheep in the Basque country.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes writes that nearly all of his sheep have now lambed. He concludes that the Soay, Manx or Hebridean sheep are not worth keeping except for ornamental value, that the Welsh spotted and Shetland sheep are hardier and that the Cheviot lamb crosses are not as hardy as one would expect. Elwes wants a wool expert to report on his various sheep at clipping time. Next season he proposes to cross Herdwicks and Shetlands more largely and to get more of the spotted breed and some Wensleydales.

Elwes makes arrangements for visiting Ewart after his trip to Yorkshire. He thinks that he will soon discard the Hebridean and spotted breeds and confine himself to brown Shetlands which he will cross with Manx, Black Welsh and White Cheviots crossed with Norfolk. He also plans to try some Exmoors this year, which thrive well on Salisbury Plain. He asks whether Ewart or Cowan have any Shetland sheep arriving that year.

The year is not written on the letter.

Gladstone expresses his interest in Ewart's experiments with the speckled white female and white male birds. He recounts that Farnley Hall, Yorkshire had a large number of speckled pheasants. He offers Ewart some of the offspring from one of his own cross-breeding experiments.

Turner thanks Ewart for his letter of 16th November, and explains that he would appreciate a photograph of 'Mr Alexander's sketch'. He goes on to discuss the changing colours of foals' coats and markings as they grow up. He compares them with those of kittens, describing the process as a 'prolonged epitome of racial development'.

Turner states that he will be sending Ewart a photograph of a donkey with very accentuated stripes on its legs. He awaits news of the second foal, particularly in respect to telegony. He also discusses the origins and general characteristics of the Dalmatian, the German Pointer and the Alsatian.

Carmichael writes regarding the gridiron marking on a photograph (presumably of a zebra) Ewart has sent him, and similar markings on a zebra shot by Carmichael in Magomero.