formed collection of German or English riddles would contain some
quite as bad.

Probably few of our readers have considered the taxonomy of
riddles. Friedreich offers a loose and unscientific classification
as follows:


I. The Question Riddle.
II. The Simple Word Riddle (with seven sub-divisions).
III. The Syllable Riddle or Charade.
IV. The Letter Riddle.
1. With reference to sound.
2. With reference to form.
V. Punctuation Riddles.
VI. The Rebus.
VII. Complex Riddles; combination of two or more simple types.
VIII. Number Riddles.


Several of these forms occur in our collection.

More scientific than Friedreich's work is Petsch's _Studien über
das Volksrätsel_. His analysis and dissection of riddle forms best
enable us to test the indigenous content of our Filipino riddles. He
recognizes two fundamental riddle types. He says: "Two groups of
riddles have long been distinguished in the collections, the true
rhymed riddles and the short 'catch-questions' expressed in prose. The
difference is not only in form but in content. 'True riddles' have
as purpose the describing of an object in veiled, thought-arousing,