The bird’s nest

Four girls, five eggs, they all take one and there are still four left.

15 Mar, 2026

Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy and Bess all went together to look for a bird’s nest. They found one with five eggs in it. They all took one, and left four in. How?

Give me a hint

Elspeth, Betsy and Bess are all short for something.

Reveal the answer

They’re all the same girl

Elspeth, Betsy and Bess are all pet names for Elizabeth, so one girl took one egg.

Source: English nursery riddle, Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes, 1892