August 26, 1987

Dear Mr Plant,

I have a cryptic note from George Carter stating that you have done much work on the origins of the chicken.

I hope you will give me a recent reference so I can get access to your work.

While I am interested in the chicken, my main focus is on the Muscovy duck. If you have some ideas on precolumbian transpacific passage of the Muscovy, and also on the probable dispersion around the Pacific by the Portuguese and others? I would be most grateful for them.

I have a short history of the Muscovy which includes origin and dispersals in my computer. If you would like a copy, I will be happy to send you a printout.

I have recently sent a copy to Dr Donkin at Jesus College, Cambridge. Until this summer I have not been aware of his work and am amazed to learn he has a 160 page manuscript on the origin and dispersal of the Muscovy which has been stalled at a printer for the past two years with no prospect for publication in sight.

Sincerely,