Valdivia,
24 de Septiembre, 1985
Dear
Mr Plant,
I
acknowledge receipt of your kind letter and unfortunately we do not know about
archaeological findings related to Gallus
species; there are for the moment no concrete antecedents, but possibly they
have not been registered in the field. Oldest archaeological sites are not
older than 14,000 years in Southern Chile.
As
you well mention, the Araucana breed is somewhat clouded and polemics about it
are still going on. I am enclosing you a photocopy of an endemic article (you
got to find somebody who knows Spanish) which may help you for cross
referencing and also local Chilean information. As you notice they talk even
about a different species. Research on egg colours reveals that it is a
metabolic problem of biliary secretions on bird egg
shell, probably similar to other wildbirds which have also blue eggs.
I
am sorry not to be able to help you with more information. We would be glad to
receive your booklet for our University library; we do not have much material
an Gallus species.
With
my best wishes, sincerely yours,
Dr
Roberto P. Schlatter
Professor