46 ^ AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



Answers to January Puzzles. 



Enigma No. 1 — A Winter Visitor — Tree Sparrow. 



Enigma No. 2— New Year. What is My Name? Hairj^ Woodpecker. 



EXTRACTS FROM OUR MAIL BAG, 



The Home of a Kingfisher. 



I was walking along the bank of a small creek when I heard a splash, then 

 a Kingfisher chatter, and I saw him alight on a small dead tree with a min- 

 now in his beak. He then flew up the creek: he was flying on the right side 

 when all of a sudden he turned to the left and flew right at the bank and 

 went in a hole. 



I watched and very soon saw his tail feathers coming out first; he seemed 

 to back out. 



He then whirled around and flew down the creek. I went and dug in the 

 hole, which was about six inches deep, and found the bluish-grey birds with 

 their pin feathers on. 



The little birds would cling to my fingers. I took them out of their nest 

 and found they were six in numljer. The old bird sat on a small dead limb 

 and scolded. I put the birds back in the nest and left them in peace. I went 

 back in about two weeks and they were gone. 



Bonner Coffey, 



Bandera, Texas. 



The Old Man's Song. 



Once long ago, an old man, bent and gray. 



Had lived for years within the forest lone; 

 When youth was his he journeyed far away. 



From home, and called the solitude his own. 

 He used to wait the long cold winter through. 



Nor sulked at fierce blasts or snow or rain; 

 The gloom would go, the fair days come, he knew. 



And then he'd sing when the spring birds came again : 

 "I knew you'd come, you'd come to me. 



You'd come to let your music ring. 

 So sweet, so charming and so free — 



I knew once more I'd hear you sing: 

 And I was so lonely waiting here. 



But waited not in vain 



