Dr Elio Corti
Valenza - Italy

1-4-1995

Dear Elio,

I received your letter and material and request. Thank you very much. I also received the Van Gink book from Veronica in good order and condition for which I am most appreciative. It was a very nice thought and gift from you.

I am only too happy to send information to you because over many years a lot of people have sent me information and I am pleased to be able to send some of it to others if it will help in their researches. I believe the best way to learn is the information exchange.

Now your request regarding the surnames. It will probably take me a little while to organise some information as I am not sure of the best way to approach the job. However I have a fiend who at one time was Chief Librarian at the University  near here. I will ask him the best way to go about the job. He should be able to advise me.

My friend Professor George Carter tells Atahualpa was the last of the Incas: chicken-chicken ATA from Ecuador and HUALPA from Peru.

I do have a copy of the Registry of Poultry Genetic Stocks which I am copying for you. I will send this. As there are many pages it will reach you in different packages. Also I will copy Kimball’s papers and send them on. I am not sure if I have anything by Latcham. I will look through my books.

I am pleased that the information I sent was useful. Carefoot is a very knowledgeable fellow. I have been corresponding with him for some years.

The postcard of Valenza was good. It is an old city I would think. My city is old as far as Australia is concerned as the country has only been colonised for just over 200 years. Maitland was one of the early settlements. My son’s home is over 150 years old.

My son is still breeding Pekin Bantam but is not doing a lot with them  right now. He is so busy with his work. I do not have any bird now. It is too difficult as my eyesight is very poor. I have been invited to contribute some articles for a Dutch magazine, Avicultura. I am enclosing a brochure. It is an English language magazine.

Fine on writing to Stromberg on Araucana book. I wrote to Veronica to advise that book arrived OK and mentioned that if she had a book of Punnett Heredity in Poultry  she might let you know. It is quite good.

I have just published a booklet on Australorp History. I will send you a copy in due course.

All for now. Regards.