Animals--Colour

Elwes writes that Lord Fortescue had not mentioned his sheep's Eastern origin, but that he will provide further particulars if requested. He also encloses a photograph of the white Welsh ram 'Twm Shon Dafydd 4th'.

Elwes reports that Hall, a mutual acquaintance, approves of Ewart's paper and feels that it paves the way for something on a larger scale later. Elwes has received a pair of Rocky sheep, and asks Ewart if he wants a long-tailed black Welsh ram lamb. He has heard that the Board of Agriculture are trying to get a farm where animals for exporting will be tested for tuberculosis and imported animals received in quarantine.

Elwes asks for feedback on his notes on Ewart's sheep, which he intends to publish. He stresses the importance of photographing the sheep, as well as taking the measurements of the weights and lengths of the fleeces. He will send the black ram lamb to Ewart shortly.

The year is not written on the letter.

Jackson writes that following the advertisement in The Field, he would be very glad to send Ewart a white cock pheasant. He also says that he would be willing to mate a white cock with a white hen for experimental purposes.

Gladstone writes that, having seen the advertisement in The Field, he would be pleased to give Ewart a white cock pheasant for his experiments, on condition that it is stuffed after death, and that any unusual offspring is sent to him for his own collection.

Gladstone provides details about the shipment of the white cock pheasant he is sending to Ewart. He writes about his research on to what degree the male bird influences the stock produced by him and an unusual mate, and includes further details on the colours of various bird plumages.

Gladstone enquires whether the white cock pheasant he sent to Ewart has been more successful this year. He asks that Ewart keep the bird until it dies or is killed, and then he should send it to J. Cullingford of the University Museum, Durham, where it will be stuffed. He offers Ewart a bird which he considers to resemble a bantam cock in return for Ewart's opinions as to its parentage.

Gladstone says he is pleased that the white cock pheasant has been of service to Ewart and states that he will gladly send him some of the presumed hybrids between a common hen and a pheasant if Ewart will give his opinion on them.

Muntz asks Ewart's advice on the best book relating to the question of colour (in breeding) of animals, particularly the horse. He has a stud of moorland ponies on Dartmoor, Devon and hopes to experiment with some of the ponies at a later date.

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'.