November 26, 1984

Dear Mr Plant,

I am looking at your letter of 29/6/84 and your book,The Origin History and Distribution of the Domestic Fowl (part 2), Chicken Bone Recoveries, 1984, which I received in the mail about three weeks ago.

Due to my failing eyesight, I needed to await having someone read it to me and this can be done only in a small amounts because of the unfamiliarity of the reader with the text. Thus, I have delayed writing you. From your letter, I am happy that the use of Timoptol seems to have things under control and that surgery is not imminent. In my case, my eyes are gradually getting worse and during a recent visit the Sheie Institute in Philadelphia, I have been advised that nothing can be done to help; implant would not be possible because e of a condition of nearsightedness which I have been handicapped all my life.

I have obtained to your book on the Origin, Evolution etc of the Domestic Fowl and compliment you on your efforts to assemble all the data available concerning the introduction of chickens into various parts of the world. I sympathize with you and recognize the frustrations you must feel in getting responses and incomplete data from the various investigators on the subject. I commend you for being diligent and persistent in accumulating and codifying the data. As you say, perhaps in the lifetimes beyond ours, someone may find all the answers. I certainly can tolerate your digression over the Araucana since the blue egg, the pea comb, the ears tufts and the rumplessness create mystery about their precise origin.

In listening to your book, I came to the conclusion that you can improve the presentation by the use of annotation (numbered) with more limited quotations that are most pertinent. The complete reference would be included in an appendix. The quotes as used seem to detract from you story thread. I might also suggest that you might get some volunteer assistance from a nearby college or University in the fields of proof-reading and construction from students in the English Department. You won’t have to make so many apologies which, I think, detracts from your text.

I admire your efforts to attain some uniformity and adoption of standard in Australia and would encourage you and your son to be persistent about them. I will be happy to review any information you may develop. There is one thing that I do not agree with! In the Australian descriptions, more than one eye color is permitted in a given breed or variety; this would certainly not be tolerated in the United States. Proper breeding techniques will overcome this variation.

Sincerely,