• THE CUCKOO'S NOTES
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—In reply to • your correspondent writing under the heading "Country Life and Sport," I have noticed that, whatever cuckoos may be supposed to do, as a matter of fact they only sing a true major third at the beginning of May, and the song always begins to vary at about the middle of the month. I find recorded in my Nature Note book that in 1912 they sang thus :-
sad I do not think the song varies more than usual this summer. The other day the cuckoo started singing at 4 a.m. (summer time), when it was not light, the song mingling with various cries-of owls. Other songsters started about twenty Minutes later, and then I went to sleep again.
As to the "beneficent greed" or hunger of tits, I- have myself watched a pair carrying green caterpillars to the nesting box at the rate of five in three minutes, and often three in one minute.—I am, Sir, &c., Steep, Petersfield, Hants.
G. RUSSELL.
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