From Samuel James Augustus Salter   20 November 1867

My dear Sir,

I recollect some time ago seeing, in the Field Newspaper, some questions put by you, asking for information relative to the colouring & marking of horses.¹ If I am not mistaken your queries had reference to dun-coloured horses approximating asses in their characteristic markings. Would you be so very kind as to tell me if you obtained any information on this head and if it is published.²

I have been making observations on this subject for years; and I have a good many notes and some sketches, which I mean to put together & bring before the Zoological Society.³

I find that the three stripe-markings, supposed to be characteristic of Asinus are all found in Equus.

1^st. The stripe down the back, common in duns, occasional in chestnuts.

2^nd. Stripes on the legs rare and only seen in duns.

3^rd. Cross-stripe over the withers very rare indeed; and when present generally associated with yellow dun-colour.

This latter marking is so extremely uncommon that I find many persons, associated with horses all their lives, deny that it ever occurs. I have however seen some twenty examples in the last ten years.

I feel sure you will excuse my troubling you about this question.

Believe me, | My dear Sir, | Yours sincerely, | James Salter.