15-10-1995

Dear Bill,

Received your letter and after two days your very interesting information. Where you find all these things? You are unique! I will read them later, because I am preparing myself for Moscow. Two words about Ceska Republica. In this moment they have all as we have, but the prices are very low. For example: the Italian cigarettes I smoke cost 3,200 It£ each box of 20 cigarettes, the same quality in Ceska Republica costs 1,320 It£. I have entrusted my friend whose wife is of that country to buy for me, because he is frequently visiting this country. Also the books and magazines are very cheap: the poultry magazine Chovatel costs 16 KC (Crown Ceska), 0.80 AU$, and I send you a copy for your files and to show to the members of your Club. This magazine is edited monthly and is present in all the bookstalls. This fact demonstrate that they have a poultry culture different than in Italy. One copy send also to Mr Bartlett, together with the article about Italian poultry situation, finally finished, and the same article I send to you because you may find yourself inside.

I was visiting the monastery of the Augustinians in Brno where Mendel lived and achieved his experiments. Very interesting, and hope with your machine you may read some part of the booklet concerning with. In the afternoon of the same day I was where Mendel is born, Hyncice, ten home spread in the green, about 80 km from Brno.

I hope the introduction is without mistakes, and to compare I send your manuscript. You have some choices, with and without signature. Your correspondence is at a good point, sometimes find words I not understand, but when in Italy you may help me in the correction. May be I need some new photocopy because sometimes few letters are incomplete. But before I must achieve in writing and after I send you the little list of what is missing.

Good you have written to Pat Rich. About the problem of missing toe in fowl may be a day I can help you in reading what I have written in my book. This is not the moment, the Russia is near! My book is running, but during this interval between the two travels I have achieved some correspondence, the article for Australasian Poultry, have written a letter in Ceska language (naturally not translated by myself) and I assure that it's easier write numbers than this language, full of accents and other symbols. I have found a software in this country, made in England, and now is possible for me write the languages of Eastern Europe, the Russian, the Hebrew and the Arabian.. The cost was low, about 100 AU$. I hope you may find interesting information in the Crawford's book, both about fowl and poultry in general. In my opinion this book is a Bible, very useful because it contains many references.

Good to hear that Husky was mother. Now Frank is busy with 6 pups. Tomorrow I give the Frank egg material to analyse at the Pavia University. Before I have taken some photo and I will show them in Italy. In Pavia in this moment is a part of my book to review, the part concerning the molecular genetics. After Moscow I will achieve the melanins and the part about the fowl behaviour. An ask, do David has received the book regarding melanins of Prof Prota I have sent him?

I hope Bob now is keeping better. All my animals (2 dogs, 1 Ara and 1 Indian Blackbird) are good in health, also the fowls in general. Yesterday was the birthday of Eduardo and he has ringed to me and told that some Sebright, Bearded d'Anvers and Japanese Bantam born from Italy eggs are very nice. In this moment Eduardo is working with his mother and he don't now in what way programming his future. We wait....

I must be sure that Darwin, during his voyage, never was in Araucania. You must check his book of the trip around the world, because this fact may be very important: if he not put his feet in Araucania's ground, it was impossible for him to describe the blue eggs. Have nice days, and let me know the date of your arrival....