Dr Elio Corti
Valenza - Italy

26-11-1995

Dear Elio,

Received your letter with the order for Romanov. I have packed the order with Pekin Book plus 6 of my own books and a Club Newsletter. Plenty of information for him to read. I have been to the Travel Agent and checked. They told me the cost is the same with British Airways and Quantas. They advise to use Quantas to London and BA from London to Milano. It can be all incorporated in the same ticket. However, they are writing a letter setting out all details which I will send to you for approval.

They can arrange my insurance and advise necessary to obtain French visa in Case I have to pass through French territory. Visa not required for Italy, Germany, Holland. I have form and photographs to apply for passport.

OK on writing to Ian Smith. He is not a good correspondent. OK your comments regarding Mendel, an interesting subject. I will put together small article on Mendel for our Newsletter, not a technical article. You were fortunate in making up with Romanov and Irina, I was most surprised at their low salaries. They must find things very difficult. Thank you for the paper on the Orloff chicken. I have started studying it but need more time. From what I have studied so far (regarding traits) I would expect that one of the ancestors of The Orloff would be the Malay. Most interesting.

Glad to hear The voyage of the Beagle arrived. I think you will find your answers in the book. By the way would you check through my letters if you have one from Dr William Cawley of the Texas A&M University. I think there was a letter from him which I cannot find. If you locate it would you send me a copy of it.

Regarding Ex Libris  issue, you ask for motto: ALWAYS PROGRESS. OK?

Thanks for the copy of the letter to Loyl Stromberg. Most interesting. You may meet him one day when he goes to Europe. I must write to him again. I received a number of copies of Avicultura magazine (small animals, chickens, rabbits, pigeons, cattle etc). This is an English version of Dutch magazine. They have reproduced one article from our Pekin (we gave them permission) and I have submitted 2 articles for publication. The quality of this magazine is very good, particularly the colour photographs.

I do not have the Rhode Island book ready yet. Waiting on Tony for printing. The Poultry Breeding and Genetics is very good book. I have copied bits out of it for David, but of course if he needs to read sections he can take it and do so. It brings most of the literature up to date.

It seems that your Italian Standard is nearing completion, which is good. I have hopes that we will eventually have our own Australian Standard one day. However it will take a lot of work to do it properly. The British Standard which is used a lot here in my opinion is not satisfactory in this country.

Fine on Professor Prota. It will be good to meet him. We will learn from him. It would be good to hear your voice on the telephone and news that my material is making progress. You must be very busy sorting out your genetics book.

David is going to put together an in depth book on Old English Game fowl in Australia. It will take a little while but I can assist him from my files and some research. The OEG situation in this country is very fragmented. It needs someone to do an analysis on the matter.

We have had much rain which is good, headed badly. Joyce and Max arrived home the other day from holiday. Bob was pleased to see them. David and Christopher OK. Very busy. They have hatched many chickens.

Until next time.

Regards.

Enclosing Pekin Club Badges and Club Spoon which I should have given you when you were here. Joyce also encloses telephone cards which she thinks you collect.

Also received Zwerg Cochin  book which Rüdiger from Germany was sending to me.