September 5, 1994

Dear Bill:

Thank you for your letter. I have spent most of the summer in Saudi except for three weeks in July when I cut my hay. I’m just been home a week and on Sept. 29 will go back to Saudi to check on my birds and then on to Shanghai for two weeks to do a feasibility study. While in Shanghai I will certainly take time to check on what you call my colonies of geese.

In regard to having access to the chicken bones excavated in Thailand: I urge you to contact Charmion McKusick (Route 1 Box 35D, Globe Arizona, 85501) to whom bones speak. Mind you I have no idea of her possible interest but she certainly has the expertise you lack.

I will send her a copy of your letter and of this letter to you and mention that George Carter is a long time correspondent of yours. And I will send copies to George as well.

I now have both the Tsiaya, an egg laying breed and the Kiaya, the breed which supplies the female for artificial insemination with Muscovy semen to make mule ducks, in Saudi. The toleration of the ducks to 45-47° daily is testimony to the marvellous efficiency of their feet as radiators of heat. These birds have only a shed with a Corrugated steel roof and a tiny pond but the females are laying 75%. I have no taken the temperature of the water but the temperature of the water in fish ponds in Saudi is 8-10° less than the ambient temperature.

Be of good cheer!