A slice of Victoria sponge anyone.

(Actually made in the Cosori Air Fryer as an experiment - it was delicious.)

Todays card games that people play

Compositionally Challenged

📷 Week 25 Games People Play

Versatile boots can be smart with a good skirt or casual with skinny jeans. They are lovely and comfy and cozy in winter so their season is probably done until near the end of the year.

CC Most Versatile - Eat Your Veggies

Some of the vegetables in this dish came in a package of precut, mixed veggies. I don't plan on doing that again as the cutting makes them go bad quicker. And the asparagus was quite woody. They must have used the parts of the plant that I would normally cut off when prepping. Also, the precut round carrots are just plain boring and make me think of cafeteria food. The food was still delicious, with added flavors of wine, ginger, lemon grass paste, and low sodium soy sauce.

Outfit by Versatile Fashions (www.versatilecorsets.com)

The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Thank you very much Sharon for setting these fab themes.

In this month's challenge, 10 members entered 92 photos, and 8 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order were: Maria, Ms J, Robin, Linda, Sandi, Sharon, Dave and Andy.

This montage features at least one photo per person, and at least one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.

recipe on my blog. :)

Torchlight on a "Waterford" crystal bird ornament.

I needed a photo of a path for the CC Versatile challenge... and saw the sunshine in the garden! First time for days I have seen the sun!!

So out I went to capture the path... and the sun!!

This lovely noodle is something we can always fall back on when we don't know what else to make for dinner. It's also very versatile and we love to add all sorts of things to it, buffalo chicken for instance. YUM!

Paper - RNLI notepad

1- Sony HVL-F42AM

guide number: 42

Versatile bounce angles: 90° up, 90° left, 180° right

340g

2- Sony A850 + VG-C90AM Vertical Grip - Minolta A-mount

Année : 2009

24x36 - Cmos 24.61 mp (6048x4032) - 100/6400 ISO

central F2.8sensor, 10 assist points

850g (+ grip 320g without batteries)

[My A850 album]

The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Thanks very much Sharon for this months super themes.

In this month's challenge, 11 members entered 94 photos, and 8 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order were: Ms J, Dave, Robin, Maria, Linda, Sandi, Sharon, Andy.

This montage features at least one photo per person, and at least one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.

Cute Pixie Haircut with Versatile Bangs

sarasotabradentonhairsalon.com/cute-pixie-haircut-with-ve...

more on my blog

Canon AE-1 | Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 | Kodak Max Versatility 400 (expired 2006-09)

( scan from print - SOOC - unedited )

© All rights reserved - Please don't use this image without my permission

For CC March Versatile.

Not only can this serve as an efficient critter-catching-cup, a couple of discount airlines have used a similar setup for their public address system.

My desk lamp for the Oct versatile challenge :)

Photoshoot with Brittany

This little truck was one of the most widespread in Italy back in the sixties. It was well known and appreciated for his strenght and versatility.

You probably saw it last week as a part of my AGIP Gas Station diorama and today I share more detailed pictures.

Manufactured by OM – Officine Meccaniche – the Leoncino (literally little lion) was produced from 1950 to 1968 in many different series. The one above is an early series decked up in a bright AGIP-Supercortemaggiore livery.

Thanks for stopping by.

Facebook | Instagram | LEGO Ideas

my overwhelming emotion when I think about this car is how supremely practical and versatile it is.

The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Loads of thanks to Linda for setting these themes.

In this month's challenge, 10 member entered 92 photos, and 8 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order are: Maria, Sandi, Dave, Linda, Lesley, Simone, Sharon and Andy.

This montage features at least one photo per person, and one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.

Normally, I use two photo slots for the title and group icon. But! I thought that with 10 players and 8 maximums, I could use all 18 slots - 2 pics from each of the maximums, and 1 each from the other players. This won't be the new norm, as I miss having the group icon. The title and icon together, breaks up the regimentation, and creates a counter point. It seems that we can have two much regimentation after all.

The very beginning of sunset during extreme haze.

Coucher de soleil

C1, C2

Vereinfacht und robust zu bedienen. Neue SX70 HS

Black and White edition

Canon Powershot SX70 HS DS

from Macro 0 cm to the Moon in seconds

The best versatility you can get with a camera

Sonnenuntergang

Als Sonnenuntergang bezeichnet man sowohl das Verschwinden (Untergang) der Sonne unter dem Horizont als auch den Zeitpunkt dieses täglichen Phänomens im Sonnenlauf sowie die Himmelserscheinung als solche mit all ihren Phänomenen. Auf den Sonnenuntergang folgt die Zeit der Abenddämmerung, die je nach geografischer Breite unterschiedlich lang ist. Obwohl der Sonnenuntergang in einigen Kulturen, beispielsweise bei den alten Germanen, im Judentum und im Islam, den Tagesbeginn markiert(e), beginnt der bürgerliche Tag (auf internationaler Ebene) um Mitternacht.

#

Der wahre Sonnenuntergang ist der Moment, an dem die Oberkante der Sonnenscheibe den wahren Horizont unterschreitet. Der wahre Horizont, auch als geozentrische Horizontalebene bekannt, ist die senkrecht zum Lot des Beobachters stehende, durch den Erdmittelpunkt verlaufende Ebene.

In diesem Moment ist zwischen Sonne und Horizont ein Abstand von etwa 2/3 ihres Durchmessers zu sehen.

#

Sunset, also known as sundown, is the daily disappearance of the Sun below the horizon due to Earth's rotation.

###

As a ray of white sunlight travels through the atmosphere to an observer, some of the colors are scattered out of the beam by air molecules and airborne particles, changing the final color of the beam the viewer sees. Because the shorter wavelength components, such as blue and green, scatter more strongly, these colors are preferentially removed from the beam.

...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset

Während ein weißer Sonnenstrahl durch die Atmosphäre zum Betrachter gelangt, werden einige Farben durch Luftmoleküle und Partikel aus dem Strahl gestreut, wodurch sich die endgültige Farbe des Strahls ändert, den der Betrachter sieht. The very beginning of sunset

-

Da die Komponenten mit kürzerer Wellenlänge, wie z. B. Blau und Grün, stärker streuen, werden diese Farben vorzugsweise aus dem Strahl entfernt.

###

Sunset colors are typically more brilliant than sunrise colors, because the evening air contains more particles than morning air.

#

Sonnenuntergangsfarben sind in der Regel brillanter als Sonnenaufgangsfarben, da die Abendluft mehr Partikel enthält als die Morgenluft.

#

edition by Photoshop

Android

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS

Date and Time (Digitized) -

2019:08:29

20:07:15

ƒ/8.0

188.0 mm aka 100 mm

1/125

ISO 100

Dunst entfernt

klarer

schärfer

farbiges Rauschen korrigiert

Komischerweise hat die SX60 und SX70 kein eigenes Sonnenuntergang (SCN sunset, sunrise) Szenen-programm mehr.

Schon die SX1 hatte ein fantastisches SZN Programm für Sonnenuntergang.

Es hat etwas gedauert diese Technick der SX70 beizubringen.

Zum Glück gibt es das Selfie Programm.

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS

Da kann man wie bei einer DSLR per Info button,

Hintergrundschärfe,

Helligkeit und

Rauschen einstellen.

Die Einstellungen bleiben erhalten.

Leider erwähnt dies Canon nirgends explizit.

Canon Powershot SX70 HS

www.flickr.com/search/?

Canon Powershot SX70 HS

photos

Compositionally Challenged November's most versatile Early to bed. The sun sets early now, around 5.

Normally I make these around Christmas/New Years but this year it didn't happen. Hubby says Thank you Sharon for having Pie or Pi on the March Most Versatile challenge.

Very versatile Agnes.

The most versatile craft in the Colonial Defense Navy, the F-80 was designed from the beginning to be modular and customizable to adapt to a wide-array of combat scenarios. New modular systems are still in development as this carrier-bourne starfighter campaigns across the galaxy in the fight for peace and justice. The Sabrehawk may be new, but it is quickly finding itself host to many new fighter aces.

Happy belated to Hasselblad creator and photographer Victor Hasselblad, whose birthday was a couple days ago. I've been a proud owner of a Hasselblad 500cm for around eight years now and it has become one of, if not my most prized and useful possessions. I can only imagine the immense satisfaction that Mr. Hasselblad must have had knowing how many people used his cameras to create images. I'm sure he would also be quite pleased (maybe not surprised though) to know that the beastly early models of the 500 series are still out there producing beautiful images in 2021.

When I was looking to get back into film and dip my toe into the medium format waters, I considered a number of different cameras. A few film shooters local to PDX and here on Flickr were inspirations and made me take a closer look at the 500 series. What I saw was an incredibly flexible system with outstanding build quality and aptitude. Searching my archives for an image to match, this photo from our front garden 'popped' out at me.

The versatility of the camera was on full display. Interchangeable film backs let me to load a roll of Portra 800 into an empty back which allowed for increased speed and depth of field, letting me shoot this handheld at a higher shutter speed. A tack sharp Zeiss lens mounted along with a 55mm extension tube got me up close for a true macro view. Plus the ability to swap the waist level finder for the PM-5 prism viewfinder for critical focusing and useful eye cup to block out light on a sunny day. The result is a spot on focus image of the inside of a poppy flower, so sharp you can see individual bits of pollen. Not to mention that I could have easily taken this same film back, and put it on my SWC for the next frame for a 38mm wide angle photo of our entire yard and house from the same spot. Not many film systems can claim this kind of versatility with the quality to match.

From our front yard to the Bavarian Alps, from the South Pacific seas to snow storms......my Hasselblad has been around, and never let me down.

Thank you Victor, I salute you.

Image with my Hasselblad 500cm.

OMG it's watermelon, LOL!

A composition used in Week 6 - White background set by the Compositionally Challenged Group.

A composition used in February's Most Versatile - set by the Compositionally Challenged Group.

A flat lay, high key photograph. I used yoghurt as a background, thinking that if it works for snow, it should work for me too. I didn't have a fresh raspberry, so I defrosted a few, hence the lack of texture here. I chose yoghurt as a background because I wanted to have a shadow or two in it, similar to a snow covered landscape.

I like to photograph things in a fluid freestyle sort of way, and the most work I do, is to stick the camera on a tripod and my subject on a plate, or worktop, or some other handy ready made corner of the house. There was a time when I didn't even bother with the tripod LoL.

In Africa, where resources are much more scarce, recycling is a way of life and no scrap of material goes to waste. These are flattened strips of aluminum taken from the necks of discarded liquor bottles. Strung together they form this textile-like sculpture that recalls the woven and pieced designs of "kente", a traditional type of African Asante or Ewe royal cloth

Born in Ghana, El Anatsui currently lives in Nigeria. His work reflects his awareness of both the international contemporary art market and what he terms "classical" African art. Emerging as an artist during the vibrant West African post-independence art movements of the 1960s and 1970s, El Anatsui has gone on to receive international acclaim for his constantly evolving and highly experimental sculpture.

Photographed on display at the De Young Fine Arts Museum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

✦ BLACK LOTUS – WEEKEND SALES ARE ON! ✦

✨ All items available for 99L each ✨

Explore this weekend’s drops — a blend of timeless elegance, bold detail, and celestial edge.

✦ ADORA, CHERISH & SUKI EARRINGS

Pearl glow meets sculpted metal in three signature silhouettes — from smooth arcs to halo hoops.

Each style includes 8 metal options and 30 pearl colors, rigged for LeLutka.

Elegant, versatile, and made to shine under any light.

✦ MABEL, CARINA & AIKO EARRINGS

A bold trio that balances softness with structure — featuring stacked coils, radiant hoops, and modern classics.

Rigged for LeLutka, each comes with 8 metal tones and 30 pearl shades to match your every mood.

✦ UNRIGGED PIERCINGS SET

A statement mix of nose rings, moons, dermals, and spikes — all unrigged and unisex.

Comes in 8 metal colors and 2 base styles, with a resizer script for perfect fit.

Minimal or maximal — your look, your way.

✦ SHORT NAILS HUDS – ESSENTIALS

Clean, classic, and endlessly wearable.

HUD-based polish sets for our Short Nails Base — rigged for Legacy (F&M), eBody, LaraX, Kupra, and NhumanA.

Your new must-have foundation for mix-and-match nail looks.

All items are available in-store only this weekend for 99L each!

Find them at our NEW Weekend Sales Area — where all your favorite deals meet in one spot 💫

✦ NEW WS AREA: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/BlackLotus/137/19/293

A dear friend's dad, who we loved passed away overnight. R.I.P. Ernie 💙

Versatile Eyeshadow Collection, is a set available for Lelutka EvoX, sold in the BOM version - FATPACK for 69L

ᴛʀʏ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴍᴏ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴘᴜʀᴄʜᴀsᴇ

taxi: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VELOUR/70/206/2010

Lancahsire's only population of wild Red Deer is found at Leighton Moss and in the Silverdale area. They are thought to have crossed over from Cumbria where they occur in forests, moors and on the mountains. At Leighton Moss they are found in reedbeds, showing their versatile nature.

The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species. The Red Deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor and parts of western and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being the only species of deer to inhabit Africa. Red Deer have been introduced to other areas including Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. In many parts of the world the meat (venison) from Red Deer is used as a food source.

Red Deer are ruminants, characterized by an even number of toes, and a four-chambered stomach. Recent DNA evidence indicates that the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and the East Asian and North American Elk (Wapiti) (Cervus canadensis) represent two distinct species. They also hint at an additional primordial subgroup of Central Asian Red Deer.[2] The ancestor of all Red Deer probably originated in Central Asia and probably resembled Sika Deer.[3]

Although at one time Red Deer were rare in some areas, they were never close to extinction. Reintroduction and conservation efforts, especially in the United Kingdom, have resulted in an increase of Red Deer populations, while other areas, such as North Africa, have continued to show a population decline.

Description

The Red Deer is the fourth largest deer species behind moose, elk (wapiti) and sambar deer. It is a ruminant, eating its food in two stages and having an even number of toes on each hoof, like camels, goats and cattle. European Red Deer have a relatively long tail compared to their Asian and North American relatives. There are subtle differences in appearance between the various subspecies of Red Deer primarily in size and antlers, with the smallest being the Corsican Red Deer found on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia and the largest being the Caspian red deer[citation needed] (or maral) of Asia Minor and the Caucasus Region to the west of the Caspian Sea. The deer of Central and Western Europe vary greatly in size with some of the largest deer found in the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe.[3] West European Red Deer historically, grew to large size given ample food supply (including peoples' crops), and descendants of introduced populations living in New Zealand and Argentina have grown quite large in size and antlers. Large Red Deer stags, like the Caspian Red Deer or those of the Carpathian Mountains may rival the Wapiti in size. Female Red Deer are much smaller than their male counterparts.

Generally, the male (stag or hart) Red Deer is typically 175 to 230 cm (69 to 91 in) long and weighs 160 to 240 kg (350 to 530 lb); the female is 160 to 210 cm (63 to 83 in) long and weighs 120 to 170 kg (260 to 370 lb).[citation needed] The tail adds another 12 to 19 cm (4.7 to 7.5 in) and shoulder height is about 105 to 120 cm (41 to 47 in). Size varies in different subspecies with the largest, the huge but small-antlered deer of the Carpathian Mountains (C. e. elaphus), weighing up to 500 kg (1,100 lb). At the other end of the scale, the Corsican Red Deer (C. e. corsicanus) weighs about 80 to 100 kg (180 to 220 lb), although Red Deer in poor habitats can weigh as little as 53 to 112 kg (120 to 250 lb).[4] European Red Deer tend to be reddish-brown in their summer coats. The males of many subspecies also grow a short neck mane ("mane" of hair around their necks) during the autumn. The male deer of the British Isles and Norway tend to have the thickest and most noticeable neck manes. Male Caspian Red Deer (Cervus elaphus maral) and Spanish Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) do not carry neck manes. Male deer of all subspecies, however, tend to have stronger and thicker neck muscles than female deer, which may give them an appearance of having neck manes. Red Deer hinds (females) do not have neck manes. The European Red Deer is adapted to a woodland environment.[5]

Only the stags have antlers which start growing in the spring and are shed each year, usually at the end of winter. Antlers are made of bone which can grow at a rate of 2.5 cm (1.0 in) a day. A soft covering known as velvet helps to protect newly forming antlers in the spring. European red deer antlers are distinctive in being rather straight and rugose, with the fourth and fifth tines forming a "crown" or "cup" in larger males. Any tines in excess of the fourth and fifth tine will grow radially from the "cup". "Cups" are generally absent in the antlers of smaller red deer such as Corsican Red Deer. West European Red Deer antlers feature bez (second) tines that are either absent or smaller than the brow tine. However, bez tines occur frequently in Norwegian Red Deer. Antlers of Caspian Red Deer carry large bez (second) tines and form less-developed "cups" than West European red deer, their antlers are thus more like the "throw back" top tines of the wapiti (Cervus canadensis sp.)and these are known as maraloid characteristics. A stag can (exceptionally) have antlers with no tines, and is then known as a switch. Similarly, a stag that doesn't grow antlers is a hummel. The antlers are testosterone-driven and as the stag's testosterone levels drop in the autumn, the velvet is shed and the antlers stop growing.[6] Red Deer produce no testosterone in their bodies while they are growing antler.[clarification needed] With the approach of autumn, the antler begin to calcify and the stags testosterone production builds for the approaching rut (mating season).

During the autumn, all Red Deer subspecies grow a thicker coat of hair which helps to insulate them during the winter. Autumn is also when some of the stags grow their neck manes.[3] It is in the autumn/winter coat that most subspecies are most distinct. The Caspian Red Deer's winter coat is greyer and has a larger and more distinguished light rump-patch (like Elk and some Central Asian Red Deer) compared to the West European Red Deer which has more of a greyish-brown coat with a darker yellowish rump patch in the winter. By the time summer begins, the heavy winter coat has been shed; the animals are known to rub against trees and other objects to help remove hair from their bodies. Red Deer have different colouration based on the seasons and types of habitats, with grey or lighter colouration prevalent in the winter and a more reddish and darker coat in the summer.[7] Most European Red Deer wear a reddish-brown summer coat, and some individuals may have a few spots on the backs of their summer coats.

Distribution

Cervus genus ancestors of Red Deer first appear in fossil records 12 million years ago during the Miocene in Eurasia.[8] An extinct genus known as the Irish Elk (Megaloceros), not related to the red deer but to the fallow deer, is the largest member of the deer family known from the fossil record.[9]

The European Red Deer is one of the largest game animals found in Southwestern Asia (Asia Minor and Caucasus regions), North Africa and Europe. The Red Deer is the largest non-domesticated mammal still existing in some European countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland.[8] The Barbary stag (which resembles the West European Red Deer) is the only member of the deer family that is represented in Africa, with population centred in the northwestern region of the continent in the Atlas Mountains.[10] As of the mid 1990s, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria were the only African countries known to have Red Deer.[11]

In the UK there are indigenous populations in Scotland, the Lake District and the South West of England (principally on Exmoor). Not all of these are of entirely pure bloodlines as some of these populations have been supplemented with deliberate releases of deer from parks like Warnham or Woburn Abbey in an attempt to increase antler sizes and body weights. Edinburgh University found that in Scotland there has been extensive hybridisation with the closely related Sika Deer.[12] There are several other populations that have originated either with carted deer kept for stag hunts being left out at the end of the hunt, escapes from deer farms or deliberate releases. Carted deer were kept by stag hunts with no wild red deer in the locality and were normally recaptured after the hunt and used again; although the hunts are called "stag hunts" the Norwich Staghounds only hunted hinds (female red deer) and in 1950 at least eight hinds (some of which may have been pregnant) were known to be at large near Kimberley and West Harling[13] and formed the basis of a new population based in Thetford Forest in Norfolk. There are now further substantial red deer herds that originated from escapes or deliberate releases in the New Forest, the Peak District, Suffolk, Brecon Beacons and West Yorkshire as well as many other smaller populations scattered throughout England, and they are all generally increasing in numbers and range. A recent census of deer populations in 2007 coordinated by the British Deer Society records red deer as having expanded range their range in England and Wales since 2000, with expansion most notable in the Midlands and East Anglia. ref [1]

In New Zealand, and to a lesser degree in Australia, the red deer were introduced by acclimatisation societies along with other deer and game species. The first red deer to reach New Zealand were a pair sent by Lord Petre in 1851 from his herd at Thorndon Park, Essex to the South Island but the hind was shot before they had a chance to breed. Lord Petre sent another stag and two hinds in 1861 and these were liberated near Nelson from where they quickly spread. The first deer to reach the North Island were a gift to Sir Frederick Weld from Windsor Great Park and were released near Wellington and these were followed by further releases up to 1914.[14] Between 1851 and 1926 there were 220 separate liberations of red deer involving over 800 deer.[15] In 1927 the State Forest Service introduced a bounty for red deer shot on their land and in 1931 Government control operations were commenced and between 1931 and March 1975 1,124,297 deer were killed on official operations.

In New Zealand introduced Red Deer have adapted much better and are widely hunted on both islands, many of the 220 introductions used deer originating from Scotland (Invermark) or one of the major deer parks in England, principally Warnham, Woburn Abbey or Windsor Great Park. There is some hybridisation with the closely related Wapiti or American Elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) introduced in Fiordland in 1921. New Zealand red deer produce very large antlers and are regarded as amongst the best in the world by hunters. Along with the other introduced deer species they are however officially regarded as a noxious pest and are still heavily culled using professional hunters working with helicopters, or even poisoned.

The first red deer to reach Australia were probably the six that Prince Albert sent in 1860 from Windsor Great Park to Thomas Chirnside who was starting a herd at Werribee Park, south west of Melbourne in Victora. Further introductions were made in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Today the red deer range in Australia ranges from Queensland down through New South Wales into Victoria and across to South Australia, with the numbers increasing. The Queensland, Victorian and most New South Wales strains can still be traced to the early releases, but South Australia's population along with all others is now largely recent farmed escapees. This is having adverse affects on the integrity of wild herds as now more and more larger herds are being grown due to the superior genetics that have been attained by select breeding.

Red Deer populations in Africa and southern Europe are generally declining. In Argentina, where the Red Deer has had a potential adverse impact on native animal species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has labelled the animal as one of the world's 100 worst invaders.

Migration

Red Deer in Europe generally spend their winters in lower altitudes and more wooded terrain. During the summer, they migrate to higher elevations where food supplies are greater for the calving season.

Taxonomy

Until recently biologists considered that Red Deer and Wapiti (or Elk) are the same species forming, a continuous distribution throughout temperate Eurasia and North America. This belief was based largely on the fully fertile hybrids that can be produced under captive conditions.

However, recent DNA studies conducted on hundreds of samples from Red Deer and Elk subspecies concluded that there are no more than 9 distinct subspecies of Red Deer and Wapiti and that they fall into two separate species: the Red Deer from Europe, western Asia and North Africa, and the Wapiti or Elk from Northern and Eastern Asia and North America. Surprisingly, from DNA evidence the Elk appear more closely related to Sika Deer and to Thorold's deer than to Red Deer.

Subspecies

Additionally there are some central Asiatic subspecies (Tarim group, including Bactrian deer and Yarkand deer), which are geographically isolated from Wapiti and western Red Deer by the Takla Makan and the Pamir Mountains. They appear to represent a primordial subgroup, genetically more related to the Red Deer than to the Wapiti. It remains unclear which clade the Kashmir stag belongs in,[2] though it, in terms of zoogeography, is most likely to belong in the central Asian group.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources originally listed nine subspecies of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): three as endangered, one as vulnerable, one as near threatened, and four without enough data to give a category ("Data Deficient"). The species as a whole, however, is listed as least concern.[1] However, this was based on the traditional classification of Red Deer as one species (Cervus elaphus), including the Elk.

Listed below are the subspecies of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), including the primordial subgroup from central Asia.

Subspecies

Additionally there are some central Asiatic subspecies (Tarim group, including Bactrian deer and Yarkand deer), which are geographically isolated from Wapiti and western Red Deer by the Takla Makan and the Pamir Mountains. They appear to represent a primordial subgroup, genetically more related to the Red Deer than to the Wapiti. It remains unclear which clade the Kashmir stag belongs in,[2] though it, in terms of zoogeography, is most likely to belong in the central Asian group.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources originally listed nine subspecies of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): three as endangered, one as vulnerable, one as near threatened, and four without enough data to give a category ("Data Deficient"). The species as a whole, however, is listed as least concern.[1] However, this was based on the traditional classification of Red Deer as one species (Cervus elaphus), including the Elk.

Listed below are the subspecies of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), including the primordial subgroup from central Asia.

Breeding, gestation and lifespan

Red Deer mating patterns usually involve a dozen or more mating attempts before the first successful one. There may be several more matings before the stag will seek out another mate in his harem. Females in their second autumn can produce one and very rarely two offspring per year. The gestation period is 240 and 262 days and the offspring weigh about 15 kg (33 lb). After two weeks, fawns are able to join the herd and are fully weaned after two months.[20] Female offspring outnumber male offspring more than two to one and all Red Deer fawns are born spotted, as is common with many deer species, and lose their spots by the end of summer. However, as in many species of Old World Deer, some adults do retain a few spots on the backs of their summer coats.[3] The offspring will remain with their mothers for almost one full year, leaving around the time that the next season offspring are produced.[5] The gestation period is the same for all subspecies.

Red Deer live up to over 20 years in captivity and in the wild they average 10 to 13 years,, though some subspecies with less predation pressure average 15 years.

Protection from predators

Male Red Deer retain their antlers for more than half the year and are less gregarious and less likely to group with other males when they have antlers. The antlers provide self-defence as does a strong front-leg kicking action which is performed by both sexes when attacked. Once the antlers are shed, stags tend to form bachelor groups which allow them to cooperatively work together. Herds tend to have one or more members watching for potential danger while the remaining members eat and rest.[5]

After the rut, females form large herds of up to 50 individuals. The newborn calves are kept close to the hinds by a series of vocalizations between the two, and larger nurseries have an ongoing and constant chatter during the daytime hours. When approached by predators, the largest and most robust females may make a stand, using their front legs to kick at their attackers. Guttural grunts and posturing is used with all but the most determined of predators with great effectiveness. Aside from humans and domestic dogs, the Wolf is probably the most dangerous predator that most European Red Deer encounter. Occasionally, the Brown bear will predate on European Red Deer as well.[5] Eurasian Lynx and wild boars sometimes prey on the calves. The leopard in Asia Minor (now extinct) probably preyed on East European Red Deer. Both Barbary Lion and Barbary Leopard probably once preyed on Atlas stags in the Atlas Mountains, although Barbary Lion is now extinct in the wild, and Barbary Leopard either very rare or extinct.

Red Deer in folklore

Red Deer are widely depicted in cave art and are found throughout European caves, with some of the artwork dating from as early as 40,000 years ago, during the Upper Paleolithic. Siberian cave art from the Neolithic of 7,000 years ago has abundant depictions of Red Deer, including what can be described as spiritual artwork, indicating the importance of this mammal to the peoples of that region (Note: these animals were most likely Wapiti (Cervus canadensis) in Siberia, not Red Deer).[21] Red deer are also often depicted on Pictish stones (c.550-850 AD), from the early medieval period in Scotland, usually as prey animals for human or animal predators. In Medieval hunting the red deer was the most prestigious quarry, especially the mature stag, which in England was called a 'hart'.

Red Deer products

Red Deer are held in captivity for a variety of reasons. The meat of the deer, called venison, is not generally harvested for human consumption on a large scale, though speciality restaurants seasonally offer venison which is widely considered to be both flavourful and nutritious. Venison is higher in protein and lower in fat than either beef or chicken.[22] In some countries in central Asia, elk is still hunted as a primary source of meat.

The red deer can produce 10 to 15 kg (22 to 33 lb) of antler velvet annually.[citation needed] On ranches in New Zealand, China, Siberia, and elsewhere[23] this velvet is collected and sold to markets in East Asia, where it is used for holistic medicines, with South Korea being the primary consumer. In Russia, a medication produced from antler velvet is sold under the brand name Pantokrin (Russian: Пантокри́н; Latin: Pantocrinum).[citation needed] The antlers themselves are also believed by East Asians to have medicinal purposes and are often ground up and used in small quantities.

Historically, related deer species such as Central Asian Red Deer, Wapiti, Thorold's Deer, and Sika Deer have been reared on deer farms in Central and Eastern Asia by Han Chinese, Turkic peoples, Tungusic peoples, Mongolians, and Koreans.[citation needed] In modern times, Western countries such as New Zealand and United States have taken to farming European Red Deer for similar purposes.

Deer antlers are also highly sought after worldwide for decorative purposes and have been used for artwork, furniture and other novelty items.

Acquired a new light today - its quite small, and too bright thanks to having brand new batteries in it but I have a feeling it could be really quite versatile!

Watch this space and you will no doubt see some more of this soon!

I bought a versatile blue dress and blazer on the same day and thought they'd go well with some ModCloth accessories! This bag is my second bag from Modcloth and it is the PERFECT school bag, but still manages to look professional and not like its backpack predecessor. And these shoes, the nonfiction pumps, I actually named and won myself! So of course I'll wear them to my Creative Nonfiction writing class whenever I can. This outfit may look all business, but it was fun to put together :-)

blazer & dress: Urban Outfitters, for 9.99 each (there's a rip in my blazer's lining in a place no one will see, what a steal!)

satchel: Modcloth

tights: target

Shoes: Modcloth

Sometimes, I'm a little different.

Seems to work though less than 1m

Developed by Whampoa Colour Centre

*For December Bonus and December Versatile in the CC group.

This month there were 9 members fielding 74 images, 5 of whom played a full house of images; Jamie; Dave; Mrs P; Maria and Mic.

This montage is a representative selection of entries, with at least one image per member.

Thanks to Sharon for setting the challenge.

Instagram__heterotopia

This is the corner of my desk - I just liked the pattern it made.

Also for the CC Versatile challenge on Wood.

For the June CC Versatile Challenge.