Scope and Contents Ridgeway thanks Ewart for allowing him to reference Ewart's information concerning the Ward's zebra in his forthcoming work, but states he will be careful not to give away too much information about Ewart's own work before he has published his findings. He reminisces about the introduction of Clydesdale stallions to his native Kildare, and the inferior offspring which cross-breeding with the local mares produced. He encourages Ewart not to lose heart in the face of criticism over 'the...

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Ridgeway tells Ewart of a book Les Races Chevalines by Simonov and Moeder which deals especially with Russian breeds of horses. He also reports that his hybrids of Muscovy and Aylesbury ducks have proved sterile.

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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.

Scope and Contents Ridgeway mentions Lydekker and Lankester's work on the preorbital part of the skulls of race horses and their theory that the 'blood-horse' derives from the Indian Equus sivalensis. Ridgeway believes that it is more likely to derive from Africa and Equus stenosis and asks Ewart if he has noticed any preorbital depressions in the skulls of Celtic ponies, as this could support the argument that the Celtic pony is a separate species or...

Scope and Contents Olivier writes on behalf of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to introduce the enclosed letter and invite Ewart's opinion on the breeding of horses suitable for artillery purposes. The enclosed letter, dated 03 March 1916, from W. Reid of Illinois to Captain Spanton, outlines the former's opinions of the best breeds of artillery horses that America produces. He describes the American preference for the Percheron, which can weigh as much as Shires and Clydes but with limbs...

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Cockerell states that he finds Chapman's zebra a very good species to use for the process of measuring skulls. He details at length the various measurements of skulls from the different Equus species, and encloses remarks made by James W. Gidley on this subject.

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Cockerell writes regarding the notes that he had sent about Equus scotti, and the apparent differences between this species and Equus caballus, an opinion he has now had to alter in the light of information supplied by James Gidley. Cockerell doubts whether the bones of any species of horse would indicate from which hemisphere it originated.

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Dykes offers his opinions on what horses are best to cross with, choosing the modern Hackney and an Arab Highland cross. He says he will inform Ewart about the white maned mare which belongs to a carting contractor whose stables are in Portobello.

There is also a copy, in Dykes' hand, of the programme for the Highland and Agricultural Society, Inverness Show, 1839 and a copy of a letter to Dykes on behalf of Lord Lovat about a pony stallion 'Alan Kingsburgh'.

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Blunt reassures Ewart that he has not lost interest in his experiments and discoveries. He believes that the four varieties of horse distinguished by differences in their callosites is very important. He is pleased the grey arab given as a filly, has proved useful to Ewart and states that he will be unable to supply a friend of Ewart's with a bay Arabian mare due to the great demand for Arabian horses in the colonies.

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Laidlaw suggests why the Shire and Clydesdale horses have so many white markings. They may breed with cattle whilst the mares are in season. He states that not so many white markings in the cart horse are found in the West and North of Scotland and details further examples of cases of unusual markings on different varieties of horse.