ON SCHEDULE CUCKOO

Sir, - A little poem I learnt when growing up in Wales, which might help to put Mr Brendan Gallagher's mind at ease.

The Cuckoo comes in April, it sings its song in May, in June it changes its tune, In July it flies away. According to this ditty, the cuckoo is not late at all but singing away bang on schedule. In fact if Mr Gallagher has heard the cuckoo singing earlier than this in previous years then that should have given rise to even greater cause for concern. Mr Gallagher suggests that the influence of Hale Bopp could have affected the visiting birds timing, on the contrary, it would seem that for Donegal cuckoos Hale Bopp has them back on course. - Yours, etc.

Coolnakilla,

Fermoy,

Co Cork.