8 FEBRUARY 2003, Page 25

Pasiphae's progeny

From Mr James Mulraine Sir: The addition of Tristan Garel-Jones (Arts, 1 February) to The Spectator staff as taurine correspondent would seem, after the appointment of Charles Moore on hunting, to be a further strike at any remaining readership of an urban or squeamish disposition. Fair enough. I am sorry, though, that he should attribute the genesis of the Minotaur to poor, innocent Europa, and not — as every boy should know — to the witch Pasiphae's ingenious and thrilling perversion.

James Mulraine

London W2