From T. M. Story-Maskelyne   4 May 1874

Dear Sir

Your letter in “Nature” vol 9. p. 482, leads me to think you may like to know that we have a Canary which is in the habit of flying about the room, & is as fond of primroses as wild birds seem to be.¹

I cannot keep a pot of these flowers in the room, for the bird attacks the buds & open flowers directly it is let out, nipping them off without touching the leaves. I am sorry I made no observation as to the portion of the flower selected; but I have enclosed the remains of Cowslips which the bird is very fond of eating—& which if left long enough in the cage, would disappear entirely; the stem being a very quickly disposed of portion. In each of these heads of flowers the same portion has been taken first—a bite into the bottom of the tube of the corolla.

N^o. 2. is the work of a Siskin in another cage; both the birds would have left nothing, if I had not taken out the specimens soon after giving them to them.²

They have plenty of water & often green food—and often try the leaves in my flower pots—leaving the flowers alone; but it was a remarkable thing to see how the Canary would find out my Primroses never mind in what corner I hid them.

I remain yours faithfully | Thereza Story Maskelyne

To C. Darwin Esq^r.