April 24, 1986

Dear Mr Plant:

Please excuse this long delay in answering your very interesting letter of September 1, 1984. I have had it on my desk such a long time with every intention of replying to it tomorrow, but like so many things, tomorrow never came. I’ve really not got to do any in-depth research on the origin of the domestic fowl since the early 1980’s because of a change in my administrative responsibilities. However, I have never lost interest in the subject and am very interested in the out come of your paper on the Origin, Evolution, History and Distribution of the Domestic Chicken. I know that it will be an outstanding piece of work.

Right after receiving your letter, I secured a copy of Cockfighting All Over the World  but I have not had a chance to study it. I do hold many of the same beliefs that you do in regard to the origin of the domestic chicken. There are just too many differences in the Silky for it all to have come about by selection.

I had a short visit with Dr George Carter just this past weekend at a poultry show. He is in very good health and is jovial as ever. I feel that he is still very interested in tracing the chicken in the new world.

Best wishes for every continued success. Please let me hear from you sometime.

Sincerely,

William O. Cawley  
Extension Poultry Specialist