AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 175 



The second bird is the Starling, which is also multiplying at a rapid pace 

 and may soon be as common and domineering as the English Sparrow. There 

 are a great many of these birds in New York City, and they build their 

 nests in nooks and crannies afforded by buildings. 



The European Goldfinch is the next bird. In the year 1905 I saw quite a 

 few of these birds in Central Park, although I have seen none this year, 

 (May 8th). As far as I can see, they show no signs of increasing. 



A colony of Skylarks has been established near Brooklyn, N. Y., and my 

 brother and I spent a very pleasant afternoon watching these birds. They 

 would soar heavenward, singing as if their tiny throats would burst, and 

 then, having reached the end of their flight, they descend, only to repeat the 

 same performance. 



The fifth bird was observed by my brother and myself in Central Park. 

 This bird was the Greenfinch. It was in a tree in one of the most populated 

 parts of the park, where automobiles and carriages went rattling by, and 

 where nurse-girls and children were swarming about. We had a good look 

 at the bird, however, and there could be no doubt as to its identity. How it 

 possibly could have gotten there I cannot imagine. 



The sixth and last bird I shall speak of is perhaps the most interesting 

 of all. This bird is the Chaffinch. A certain spot in Central Park, has for 

 three years, (at least), been the locality inhabited by a male Chaffinch. One 

 bird observer released some female Chaffinches, hoping that the bird would 

 breed, but as far as I know, it was a failure. The bird stays in the same 

 place in the park, and may be seen over and over again pouring forth its 

 song from the same tree. The bird leaves the park in the autumn and re- 

 turns again about the first of March. The Chaffinch is still in the park and 

 seems as prosperous as ever. 



Clarence C. Abbott, 



New York, N. Y. 



Numerical Enigma. 



My 5-6-2-7 is twelve months. 

 My 5-7-6-2-8-6-5 is what you did when asleep. 

 My 10-1 1-7-6-2-8 is a brook. 

 My 10-11-6-8-8-6-5 Mary did to the currants. 

 My 10-11-7-9-5-6-10 is the way big John walks. 

 My 10-6-7-6 is what the leaves will be in winter. 

 My 7-6-10-11 is god to do when you are tired. 

 My 10-4-10-1-6-7 is my relative. 

 My 11-7-2-5-6-5 is what the jockey did. 

 My 10-9-8-8-6-7 is to cook slowly". 



My 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11 is one who prepares and mounts the skins 

 of animals. 



