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WATER: Bilbo and the Weatherbird live near rivers. The Weatherbird, of course, resides near the Mighty Mississippi. What is the name of the river that serves as a border for the Shire? Brandywine Silverlode Entwash Gladden Wrong. Right. The Brandywine is called "Baranduin" in Tolkien's Elvish language Sindarin, meaning "golden-brown river." One of its tributaries is "The Water," which flowed through Hobbiton.

NAME-CALLING: Bilbo is called a rabbit or a bunny several times in "The Hobbit." What name did Post-Dispatch staffers sometimes use in the past to poke fun at the Weatherbird's appearance? "Weather-frog" "Nerdbird" "Clima-chicken" "Dodo" Wrong. Right. "Weather-frog" was a reference to the style in which the Weatherbird's face was drawn. Since 1986, Dan Martin has drawn the 'Bird with a sharp beak and a suggestion of feathers.

NUMEROLOGY: In the opening chapter of "The Lord of the Rings," Bilbo hosts a party to celebrate his 111th birthday. What unusual phrase did author J.R.R. Tolkien use to express this number? "Eleventy-one" "One hundred teenty" "Eleventeen and one" "Elevensy" Wrong. Right. Tolkien's term has roots in ancient systems of counting in twelves. Old English, for example, has hundendlufontig (hund- for "hundred" and -endlufontig for "eleventy").

CREATORS: Six artists have drawn the Weatherbird since it "hatched" 111 years ago. What attribute did three of them share? Same last name Same high school Same grandmother Same birthday Wrong. Right. The Weatherbird was created by Harry B. Martin (left) in 1901. Subsequent Martins include S. Carlisle Martin (center) and Dan Martin (right). The three are not related.

SMOKING: Both Bilbo and the Weatherbird are known to enjoy a smoke: Tobacco for the Weatherbird and pipeweed for Bilbo. But which of the two eventually kicked the habit? Weatherbird Bilbo Wrong. Right. Newspaper management took away the Weatherbird's cigar in 1987. Bilbo never lost his love of blowing smoke rings.

WORD PLAY 1: One thing Bilbo and the Weatherbird have in common is a love of words. Each daily Weatherbird cartoon is accompanied by a pithy statement about news events. What are these called? "Birdlines" "Bird's bits" "Birdwords" "Weather words" Wrong. Right. Every night, Post-Dispatch copy editors brainstorm and offer suggestions for a birdline. Readers vote online for a winner at our "Bird's Nest" blog.

WORD PLAY 2: Can you solve this riddle posed by Bilbo to Gollum? 'An eye in a blue face / Saw an eye in a green face / "That eye is like to this eye" / Said the first eye / "But in low place / Not in high place"'? Sun on daisies Moon reflected in pond Smurf looking at Gargamel Sun and moon Wrong. Right. In this riddle, Tolkien turns etymology into poetry. The word daisy comes from Old English daeges eage ("day's eye").

FEET: One's a hobbit. One's a bird. Which one wears shoes? Weatherbird Bilbo Wrong. Right. Hobbits have hairy feet and don't wear footgear. But the Weatherbird does -- in fact the Peters Shoe Co. once sold "Weatherbird School Shoes."

CHANGING APPEARANCES 1: The Weatherbird always looks dapper and frequently wears different outfits. True or false: the Weatherbird also likes to cross-dress? True False Wrong. Right. A notable instance of the Weatherbird as a "ladybird" came when Princess Diana was expecting her first son. The Weatherbird was depicted as pregnant; the birdline read 'Lady in Waiting.'

CHANGING APPEARANCES 2: In "The Hobbit," Bilbo finds a magic ring which enables him to do what? Become invisible Grow to giant-size Shapeshift Change gender Wrong. Right. In "The Hobbit," Bilbo uses his ring to disappear -- but he still takes care in bright sunlight because he casts a thin, shaky shadow.