From A. D. Bartlett   16 May 1872

Dear Sir

I turned a Snake loose into the yard with 2 of Grotes Porcupines, one of them shook his tail at the sight of the Snake, the other did not, but gnashed his teeth and appeared much inclined to bite the snake, I then tried the Crested Porcupine he did not shake his tail, but set his spines up and I thought he would attack the snake with his teeth¹   he walked round the snake and appeared angry but did not touch it— I then put the Snake into the yard with the little Java Porcupine² but he was evidently frightened of the snake and kept as far from it as possible but did not rattle his tail. I believe from what I saw that the Porcupine if hungry and in a wild state met with a snake he would kill and eat it,

Yours faithfully | A D Bartlett

Cha^s. Darwin Esq.