40 AMERICAN OBNITHOLOGY. 



PUZZLES. 



What is his name? We see him in the Middle States in spring and 

 fall, and if the branches are thick in the evergreens where he so often 

 is found, huntiag for tiny spiders, insect eggs, and such food, we are 

 very apt to learn of his presence by his voice, so you must try to guess 

 his name now from his notes. In fall these are the smallest of little 

 chirps just talking to himself, and sometimes a less pleasant, scolding 

 note, that reminds one of a wren's call. But when spring comes, he 

 remembers a lovely warbling song, as rich as an orioles, though not so 

 loud, unfortunately we do not hear it very often, for before summer 

 comes the singer is off to more northen woods to nest. 



Isabella McLemmon, Englewood, N. J. 



A WINTER ENIGMA, 



There are two birds that sometimes come to us in winter, whose 

 names together contain 25 letters, the first name from 1 to 11, the 

 second from 12 to 25. The first bird is a most 8, 14, 6, 1, 15, 9, 12, 

 11 little fellow, and he and his friends 18, 6, 19 before us as we walk 

 through the 20, 10, 13, 4, or fly ofP 8, 4, 23, 15, 8, 17, 22, 9, 7. 11 as if 

 they never minded 4, 9, 2, 8, 17, 22. Most of their plumage is 4, 21, 23» 



15, 25 in 2, 25, 20, 15, 23, 12, 11 time- but it looks rather soiled now. 

 The second bird many folks think cruel, for he 1, 9, 8, 20 on a 5, 3, 6, 

 11, 16, watching for small birds, and when he catches one, the strong 



16, 3, 13, 24 in his bill helps him to tear the flesh. But 2, 13, 4, Nat- 

 uralists 8, 16, 23, 2, 24, that the birds he is able to catch are the weak- 

 est or sometimes sick ones, and it is 5, 17, 20, 15 for them not to live, 

 for their little ones would be weak also, and Mother Nature likes 

 strong healthy children. So let us not say that any bird is bad till we 

 know a great deal about him, for generally we find that he is much 5, 



17, 8, 15, 25, 18, than we are 15, 16, 13, 6, 11, 21, 8. 



Isabella McLemmon. 



Where can these quotations be found? 1. Surely in vain the net is 

 spread in the sight of any bird. 2. A bird of the air shall carry the 

 voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. 3. Gavest 

 thou the goodly wings unto the peacock? Or wings and feathers unto 

 the ostrich? Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them 

 in the dust, and forgeteth that the foot may crush them, or that the 

 wild beast may break them. She is hardened against her young ones, 

 as though they were not hers. What time she lifteth up herself on 

 high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. 



