From R. M. Middleton   22 October 1878

My dear Sir,

A scientific friend once remarked to me that he supposed the chief reason why dogs & cats were the principal animals kept in houses was the power they possessed of controlling their evacuations. This led me to say that my favourite South American parrakeet (Conurus guianensis)¹ invariably restrained himself in this respect while being handled or when sitting on the head or dress of any person, & that, when being fed on the dining-table, he would always back to the edge of the table, & sometimes almost overbalance himself, in his effort to save the table-cover or cloth from defilement.— This bird has now been in my possession for nearly three years, so that I have had abundant opportunities of observing his habits.

Will you kindly pardon me for troubling you with these facts; & may I venture to ask if you are aware of any analogous instance of scrupulous care in the discharge of the fæces on the part of birds,—or of mammals other than those mentioned?

I am, Dear Sir, | Faithfully yours, | R. Morton Middleton, | J^r.

Charles Darwin, | Esq^re. | etc. etc.—