Dr
Elio Corti
Valenza
- Italy
7-3-1995
My
dear Elio,
Thank
you for your letter and pleased to hear you received the material OK.
As
regards the Araucana situation I thought at one time I might pursue the issue
but I don’t believe it will ever be solved. A fellow, I think was Bustos,
went looking for birds to carry out a study with some years ago, but couldn’t
find anything that appeared pure Araucana think he did collect some birds
which were a motley lot which in my opinion wouldn’t be much good to conduct
a study with.
The
only trait that seems anyway stable is the Blue Egg Shell, some are Rumplesss
some are not, the earrings are of different formations, some have straight
combs, some strength combs. Not very satisfactory. The origin is unknown. I
put forward a theory in one of my books on their origin. I could be right or I
could be wrong. As I think I mentioned Bill Cawley summed the situation up
pretty well. I think I sent you a copy.
Regarding
the people going to Indonesia I will explain the situation. They are not going
all together but mainly chaps and their wives on cruising yachts and where and
when they will visit is unpredictable. They will probably be going at
different times as they are on cruising yachts. These yachts usually finish up
in Thailand and then sail into the Indian Ocean. They have promised to make
some observations for me if the opportunity arises. I’m afraid it would not
work out the team up with them. These people don’t have a set timetable, a
lot depends on weather conditions. However I am hoping to get some interesting
info from them.
I
am enclosing the copy of a paper on the Jungle Fowl which may interest you. I
received a letter from the Netherlands the other day inviting to contribute
articles for an English language magazine relating to chickens, pigeons,
animals etc. for publication. Soon I will have a new publication available on
the History of the Australorp in Australia. I will send you a copy. Must press
on now.
Regards.
P.S.
Also enclosed:
Skeleton
of normal domestic chicken
Skeleton
of Shamo (Japan); I would expect to be much the same as Malay.
With
your medical Knowledge could you study these and give your opinion of the
differences in the make up of the skeletons which might consider them separate
species or subspecies??