20 JUNE 1903, Page 20

THE CUCKOO'S TUNES.

[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.'] SIR,—We all know so much of the cuckoo as that "in June He changes his tune," and I suppose the reason why he then sings a major, or even a minor, third is that the increasing heat makes him less inclined to take the greater intervals of his earlier efforts. This seems to be borne out by what I have observed further in his daily musical exercises. About dawn I find that he is now singing a complete fifth, later in the morning a fourth, and in the afternoon a major third. Can any of your readers corroborate this statement ? I find nothing on the subject in Gilbert White.—I am, Sir, &c.,

J. H. R.