Sir,--Some days ago I sent you a letter in which I mentioned that on April 15th a cuckoo was seen eating ripe strawberries in the garden next but one to mine, and asking whether you could tell me if anything of the kind had been known before. But up to the present I have received no reply. The only result of my letter has been the receipt of a number of circulars announcing works on the subjects of nature study and fruit culture. From a publisher's announcement which has been sent to me, giving specimen pages from "How to Tell Our Feathered Friends at a Glance," I discover that the bird I saw in my neighbour's garden could not possibly have been a cuckoo, its body being altogether too small. And in conversation with my neighbour in the train this morning I learnt that his garden does not contain strawberries; the bird, whatever it was, must therefore have been eating something else. Yours, etc., Augustus Quest. * * * * * [Illustration: THE ULSTER KING-AT-ARMS.] * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. (Extracted from the Diary of Toby, M.P.) _House of Commons, Monday, April 27._--In accordance with arrangements made last week, House met to-day with primary intention on part of Opposition to place Premier once more on the rack constructed of Questions relating to "the Plot" for over-aweing peaceful law-abiding Ulster. Startling things have happened since the Friday afternoon when Members went off for well-earned week-end holiday. There had actually been a plot in Ulster, a real one, not compact of circumstantial imaginings--a skilfully planned scheme successfully carried out in the dead of the night, when honest citizens, including the police and the military, were sound asleep. Telegraphic and telephonic communications were ruthlessly cut; cordons of armed men were drawn round selected spots. Thus surrounded and protected the conspirators landed large quantities of rifles and ammunition, distributing them through the country by relays of motor-cars. [Illustration: THE POLITICAL "FACE OF THE SKY": APRIL 28. Changeable; threatening in parts with passing squalls; considerable heat at first, milder later; general outlook more favourable.] [Illustration: THE QUESTION CRAZE. Scene--_The Battle of Belfast, 19--_. Galloper F. E. Smith, of the Ulster Volunteers, to ask the war minister what are the next tactical dispositions to be carried out by the Military forces of the Crown. "Do these right hon. gentlemen really suppose that they will be able to conduct a campaign against the Government on the field and at the same time to ask the Government all the awkward questions they can think of about their military operations?"--_Mr. Churchill_.] Something like a "plot" this, dismissing into ignominious shade report of bloodthirsty intentions of First Lord of the Admiralty and the Ex-Secretary of State for War.