6 JULY 1944, Page 14

THE CUCKOO'S INTERVAL

SIR,—The-answer of two expert musicians to Sir William Beach Thomas's question in your issue of June 23rd, as to whether the cuckoo sings a true musical interval, is to be found in Henry Festing Jones's Life of Samuel Butler, where Festing Jones records that towards the end of May, 19oo, he and Butler sketched for a week at Sammichele, in the valley of Susa, which was full of cuckoos crying to one another all day long, major thirds, minor thirds, fourths, and even seconds—Yours, &c., New Barn, Perry Hinksey, Oxford. PENELOPE SPARROW.