18 APRIL 1931, Page 17

THE CUCKOO [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Mr. Townshend

is right when he says that I doubt the truth of Wegner's statement about the cuckoo being able to colour her eggs, so that they will match the eggs of the foster- parent. I have never found any reason to believe that the German naturalist's conclusion . wig. anything more than conjecture—particularly when one kirlctsyspat he.was. entirely discredited by the Gross incident, in wjdch he Vas proved to be inventing authorities. As fot7tifk 'A-mita-Med in the case in the Natural History Museuiri,-is there any proof that they are all cuckoo's eggs ?—I am, Sir, &c., 3 Kinnerton Place South, S.W. 1. J. B. MORTON. •