Dr
Elio Corti
3-3-1996
Dear
Elio,
After receiving your telephone call I checked my
correspondence and could not find evidence of me writing a letter to you since
early in February. I am afraid I have become mixed up with my correspondence.
My apologies.
It seems that postal service between Australia and
Italy is not good. So will write each week and put a number on the letter.
Thank you for the information on shingles, the
information on what triggers of the shingles is not well known. I am OK now.
The 3 months about my trip in the Newsletter was a mistake. I have many
commitments in July and Joyce is going away again at the end of June, so I
will have to stick to the original times for my visit.
The fellow who sets out our Newsletter is the same
fellow who set out our Pekin book. He does a very good job. David will
continue his article in the next Newsletter. He had Champion Bird in the
Agricultural Show here in Maitland last week with a Pekin Pullet.
I am afraid I do not know anything about the Turkey. I
believe it originated in North America. Hoffmann is the best man on Muscovy
Ducks. I had a letter from Carefoot and Veronica. We can get a train to
Reading to see Veronica. It is not very far from London. Carefoot gave me
information regarding visiting his home. He will take us on visits to other
poultry breeders. We can get Bed and Breakfast accommodation near Carefoot.
I haven’t had any response from the Government
member regarding assistance with my research. We had an election last Saturday
and now have a change of Government with a big majority. A good thing, I
believe. I contacted a friend of mine who made some suggestions. I then
contacted the State representative of the WPSA. No luck there either. It is
very difficult to get any assistance unless you are involved with a University
or like Institution. They seem to think we are all crazy studying chickens.
However I will keep trying.
I contacted the Melbourne Museum (Victoria) and they
have specimens of birds collected by Darwin and also Wallace who did much
collecting in Malay Archipelago (Indonesia 1850’s). I have his book you
probably saw when you were here. No specimens of Gallus. Mostly Birds of Paradise etc. I was surprised. Wallace may
have specimens in the British Museum.
Joyce has some more telephone cards for you. Bob has
had a skin allergy on his back for awhile. I have started treating it with a
mixture of sulphur - kerosene - vasoline. This treatment seems to be doing
some good.
Marie’s son has moved out as 2 of his sons have come
to live with him. This will be good for Marie. David has some good Pekin and
Langshan bantams this year. I think he will win some awards.
I have written to Moscow and to Ukraine. The letter
from Romanov was very good. He is very knowledgeable. I have also written to
Annie Banning Vogelpoel and asked for her telephone number etc in Waardenburg.
I have not corresponded with her for quite awhile. She also is very
knowledgeable. I also have the phone number and address of Lesley Dupré,
Editor of Avicultura in the Netherlands.
I will endeavour to get the article you wrote on your
trip to Australia translated. I have an idea for something to bring for the
Presidents in Bergamo from Australia.
I hope your mother’s broken arm is OK now. Will
finish now but will write again next week.
Ciau.