Not All Easter Eggs Are Chocolate Quiz

Answer: Great Elephant Bird

The Great Elephant Bird, or Aepyornis, was found only in Madagascar and became extinct in the 17th century, largely due to hunting. It is understood to have stood up to ten feet tall and weighed around 400 kg. An egg from this huge flightless bird, which resembled the ostrich, was on display at the Chelsea Antiques Fair, London, in 2009, where it attracted much interest.

It was 13 inches tall and measured an astonishing circumference of over three feet. Some examples are on display in museums and it is understood a few are in private collections.

Answer: Lion

The Lion mark was introduced by the now-defunct Egg Marketing Board and first appeared on British eggs in 1956. It was dropped in 1971 when the board closed, but reintroduced in 1998 by the British Egg Information Service. The Lion mark ensures suppliers adhere to a strict code of practice in egg production, including the vaccination of hens against the salmonella bacteria. Approximately 85% of British eggs bear the Lion mark.

Answer: Hercule Poirot

Best-selling author Dame Agatha Christie's most famous creation, her Belgian private detective Hercule Poirot, has appeared in 33 full-length books and numerous short stories, as well as in several film and television adaptations. Besides Poirot, Agatha Christie created other detective characters including Miss Jane Marple, her elderly spinster sleuth, and Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Known as the 'Queen of Crime', she was born in 1890 and died in 1976 at her Oxfordshire home, Winterbrook House, which bears an English Heritage commemorative blue plaque.

Poirot's assistant and friend Captain Arthur Hastings describes meeting Poirot for the first time in 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' as" 'He was hardly more than five feet four inches but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perched it a little on one side...' Poirot's physical appearance of egg-shaped head and elaborate moustache, together with his fastidiousness and 'little grey cells', are frequently mentioned in the books, which have been translated into many languages.

Answer: True

There are many species of snake in the world and they can be found on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. The majority of snakes do lay eggs, but many do not lay them; instead the embryos develop in their eggs inside the mother's body to the point of hatching and are then born live. Boa constrictors and rattlesnakes fall into this category; such snakes are termed ovoviviparous. The term given to egg-laying snakes, which includes pythons, is oviparous.

The name given to the science of studying snakes and other reptiles is herpetology, and the people who study them are herpetologists. Many snakes can make good pets; garter snakes in particular are easy to keep and a good snake to introduce children to the responsibilities of snake-keeping as a hobby.

Answer: Scotch egg

Normally served cold, Scotch eggs have graced many a party platter. Most common in the UK, they have made their way to many other parts of the world. Home-made Scotch eggs are not difficult to make and can be made with different seasonings incorporated into the sausage meat for extra variety.

They can also be oven-baked for fewer calories! Their origin is not certain, but prominent London store Fortnum and Mason are said to have invented them in 1738. Another theory is that they originated in India.

Answer: The Crystal Egg

'The Crystal Egg' is a science fiction mystery about shop owner and antiques dealer Mr Cave, who acquires a polished egg made out of crystal. Approached by two interested customers, he initially asks a high price for the egg but then refuses to sell. He subsequently becomes obsessed with the egg, which is able to glow in the dark, and over time he can see within it an alien landscape with buildings and other-worldly beings. The story ends with Cave being found dead whilst clutching the crystal egg, with a smile on his face.

'The War of the Worlds' is one of English author H G Wells's best-known novels; others include 'The Time Machine' and 'The Invisible Man'.

Answer: Blue

Duck-egg blue is a pale greenish-blue shade, so called for its likeness to the colour of some duck eggs. It is very popular in the decorating and home furnishings industries. Apart from paints and wallpapers in this fashionable shade, there are many fabrics available to complement your colour scheme with bedding, cushions, curtains etc.

This is not to say that all ducks lay blue eggs! The colour depends on the breed and can include white and brown shades too, but it is with blue duck eggs that the name of the colour is associated.

Answer: Faberge

Peter Carl Fabergé (1846-1920) was first commissioned by Czar Alexander III to create a bejewelled Easter egg in 1885 as a gift for his wife, a tradition which was continued by his successor Czar Nicholas II and only ended with the Russian Revolution in 1917, which resulted in the House of Fabergé being nationalised in 1918. Fleeing Russia and travelling through Europe, the Fabergé family were reunited in Switzerland where Carl Fabergé died, his family believed of a broken heart, in September 1920.

Many of the surviving eggs are displayed in museums in Russia and elsewhere. Those that have been sold have made vast sums at auction, the exquisite Rothschild Egg making in excess of £8 million in 2007 when it was purchased for the Russian National Museum.

Answer: Dragon

Competing against international Quidditch player Viktor Krum from Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons and fellow Hogwarts student Cedric Diggory, no one was more surprised than Harry when his name was also picked by the Goblet. In the first task each contestant had to confront a mother dragon incubating her eggs and steal a magical golden egg from under her in order to find a clue to the next task. Harry's dragon was the fearsome Hungarian Horntail; he was able to snatch the golden egg by using a Summoning Charm to get his Firebolt, enticing her to chase him into the air and, once she had left her clutch of eggs, quickly swooping down to seize it.

Answer: Cadbury

Only available between New Year's Day and Easter, the Cadbury's Creme Egg is the UK's biggest-selling chocolate item during that time. The milk chocolate 'eggs' with their luscious fondant filling have been made in the UK at Cadbury's Bournville factory in Birmingham since 1971, and either exported to other countries or made abroad under licence.

As well as the original filling, the eggs are also available with different fillings of mint, caramel, chocolate, orange and other flavours. For a time they were sold all year round, but the company found it best to concentrate on a shorter season.

Although they are now only available for a limited period the market is huge; over 200 million Cadbury's Creme Eggs are sold each year. Now that's a lot of chocolate!