From A. F. Baillie   3 March 1871

Sir:

I have lately been re-reading the “voyage of the Beagle” and have naturally been much interested in your account of the Province of Buenos Ayres, in which I have resided for many years.¹ certain paragraphs of the book I mention have, however, especially attracted my attention namely those referring to the different breeds of cattle, and particularly that which is designated ñata, or snub-nosed.²

You will perhaps have also noticed during your journey, two other breeds, namely the petiza, or small, and the mocha, or hornless breed.³

I was requested by a friend in ⁠⟨⁠Bu⁠⟩⁠enos Ayres, in the y⁠⟨⁠ea⁠⟩⁠r ’68, to obtain for him if possible a wild ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ with the three distinctions, petiza⁠⟨⁠, mocha⁠⟩⁠ and ñata⁠⟨⁠,⁠⟩⁠ small, hornless ⁠⟨⁠and snubn⁠⟩⁠osed and after considerable diffi⁠⟨⁠culties f⁠⟩⁠ound an animal with all the requirements, in a rodeo, in the neighbourhood of Fandil, or Fuerte Independencia,⁴ to the far south of the Province.

This animal in March 1870, w⁠⟨⁠as⁠⟩⁠ still in the possession of D. Julio Jardel⁵ in the “Quinta de los Amigos”, Buenos Ayres.

The reunion of the three qualities has struck me as being interesting and I trust that you will pardon my calling your attention to it.

I have the honor to be | Sir | Yours obediently. | Alexander F. Baillie