I've decided to end my latest 'sweeps month' (for February, 2012) with something I hadn't posted in quite a while: a unique word puzzle!

For nearly 25 years, I'd been a contributor to the 'funny animal' APAzine "Rowrbrazzle". Besides my usual artwork (and anthropomorphic news), my main submissions had been a series of animal-related puzzles, including word searches, cryptograms, and lettered sudokus (the latter ones of which you had seen posted here in "Fur Affinity"). It's no wonder why I'd named my column "Rowr-Puzzle!"

So, here's an easy, yet thought-provoking, enigma for some of you to work on. Have a sharpened pencil ready...

- - - - -
Below are two puzzles, each one containing a set of common English words. Simply remove a letter from each word, and rearrange its letters to spell out the name of a familiar bird.

Example: LEAGUE - U = EAGLE

Now, here's the fun part: Take the removed letters from each word, and rearrange them to spell out the name of a BONUS BIRD (five letters for "PUZZLE ONE", and seven letters for "PUZZLE TWO")! Don't 'flock' up!

(NOTE: "PUZZLE TWO" is harder than "PUZZLE ONE")

"PUZZLE ONE"

1. MENU - _ = ___
2. WOLF - _ = ___
3. VIDEO - _ = ___
4. CANCER - _ = ___
5. ANARCHY - _ = ___

BONUS BIRD = _ _ _ _ _

"PUZZLE TWO"

1. INERT - _ = ___
2. WEANS - _ = ___
3. INBORN - _ = ___
4. ACCOUNT - _ = ___
5. ELOPING - _ = ___
6. LOOPIER - _ = ___
7. CHARIOTS - _ = ___

BONUS BIRD = _ _ _ _ _ _ _

- - - - -
And please be fair to your fellow "FA" members, by not mentioning any of the answers in your comments. I want to give everyone a fair and equal chance to solve this word puzzle. If said enigma stumps any of you, simply E-mail me, and I'll give you the answers in privacy. Thank you!

Puzzle and artwork © Rob Cat