01 December 1995

Dear Mr Plant,

Your concerns about the origin of domestic chickens were voiced to me by Dr Corti and Dr M.N. Romanov during their visit to Moscow of October this year.

They also handed to me three books written by you on the subject for me to make copies:

1) W.J. Plant. Supplement to “Chicken bone recoveries”, part 2, 1985;

2) W.J. Plant the origin evolution history and distribution of the domestic fowl, part 2, 1984;

3) W.J. Plant. The origin evolution history and distribution of the domestic fowl, part 3, 1986.

I consider that the problems of the origin distribution, evolution and the centers of the domestication or formation of chicken breed types are very interesting field of scientific research. These problems are connected with the history of the human civilization, culture, with the national customs and traditions. Unfortunately the literature on the subject features many discrepancies. Some years ago I began to study such literature and faced much difficulties resulting from insufficient information and using by authors the evidences of one sort.

Enclosed you will find a book and two articles on the history of creation of the Russian chicken breeds.

This information may be of interest to you.

I suppose that the general ways of selection are the same all around the world but each breed has its own peculiarities being the part of the culture of the nation that created it.

With the best regards.

Yours sincerely,