From Alfred Newton   29 October 1881

My dear Mr. Darwin,

I am indeed exceedingly grateful to you for your prompt attention to my request & for furnishing me with the references to Audubon’s story—which is as good for its purpose in regard to a Night-Heron as the Goose—¹ Dr. Brewer, whose personal acquaintance I made nearly 25 years ago, was, I believe, a perfectly honest man, & his statement fully deserves acceptance.² Having got your letter before going to the Museum this afternoon I looked up the story as soon as I was there. D^r. Brewer unfortunately does not seem to say whether there was anything in the configuration of the locality which would tempt the bird always to move in a northerly direction. It may have been that the only exit practicable was by that way, in which case the bird would naturally have taken it. When one tries to ascribe or explain motives to actions one is very often in the wrong, and I suspect one is still more likely to err in regard to the lower animals concerning whose impulses we know so much less. It seems to me that we are always in danger of misinterpreting the object (if there is one) of their actions, and except in a very limited number of cases can never feel sure about it.

This, however, I doubt not you have duly considered, and therefore I will say no more but that I am | Yours very truly | Alfred Newton

I do hope that when you come here next time, you will give me the pleasure of seeing you in my rooms