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Mimic Poison Frog tadpole (Ranitomeya imitator) - San Martin Department, Peru
Admittedly not the greatest photo but one that I had to get creative in order to get. I'm here in Peru researching Ranitomeya imitator, the first phase of my project involves mapping out the territories of various pairs of R. imitator and I was lucky to come across this and other tadpoles during my observations of the adults. To begin, some background info on the life history of Ranitomeya imitator: these frogs form monogamous relationships and have an advanced parental care system. After eggs hatch the male frog will carry the tadpoles to various phytotelmata, pools of water that form in plants. These pools (phytotelmata) may include things like waterlogged tree holes but this species atleast seems particularly fond of leaf axils especially those of Dieffenbachia plants. Ranitomeya imitator uses smaller waterpools to deposit their young than other species of dendrobatid which gives their offspring a competitor/predator free environment to grow in. However the drawback to growing up in a thimbleful of water is that there are typically not enough nutrients present for the tadpole to feed itself, and that is when the parental care plays a further role. The males routinely check up on sites where they have deposited tadpoles and when the tadpole signals hunger the male will fetch the female who will lay an unfertilized trophic egg into the tadpole's pool. The tadpole gains nourishment from the egg and continues its development, this process must be repeated many times over the several month course of development. If you look carefully you can see one of the trophic eggs behind this young tadpole.
As I mentioned before this was a tricky shot to get, the Dieffenbachia that this tadpole was located in was within a dense thicket that I climbed into. It was also one of many axils however the only one on this particular plant containing a tadpole, the others were simply in the way when trying to get this shot. I also had to play around with different lighting techniques in order to get a shot I was content with. Tough but enjoyable, while I'm no wholly satisfied with the result I'm overall pleased with the image and look forward to continuing to refine my methods and get more shots of this little one and others development.
Native to most of temperate North America east of the Rocky Mountains, Gray Catbirds migrate to the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean in winter. Spring migration ranges from March to May, and in the fall from late August to November.
The Gray Catbird is a medium-sized, slender songbird. Length varies from 8.3 - 9.4 inches (21 - 24 cm) with a wingspan of 8.7 - 11.8 inches (22 -30 cm). Adults are dark gray with a slim, black bill and dark eyes. They have a long dark tail, fairly long and dark legs and a dark cap; they are rust-colored underneath their tail, which is usually not visible. Both the male and female are similar in appearance and nearly impossible to distinguish apart.
Catbirds are secretive but energetic, hopping and fluttering from branch to branch through tangles of vegetation. Singing males sit atop shrubs and small trees. Catbirds are reluctant to fly across open areas, preferring quick, low flights over vegetation.
Look for Gray Catbirds in dense tangles of shrubs, small trees, and vines, along forest edges, streamside thickets, old fields, and fencerows.
The Grey Catbird is a member of the mimid family. It is the only member of New World catbird genus Dumetella. Mimids are the New World family of passerine birds, Mimidae, that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds like the Black Catbird found in Mexico and Central America. As their name (Latin for "mimic") suggests, these birds are notable for their vocalization, especially some species' remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors...although the Catbird is considered a poor imitator in comparison to the Mockingbird.
ISO800, aperture f/8, exposure .001 seconds (1/800) focal length 630mm
(The 2nd of 6 images from the series. The whole thing is on my insta, but once again without these texts).
Today I worked in my garden, almost naked (in Indian loincloth and the visor from the sun), and my friends wondered how I am not freeze. But I get used to. And I thought about this wonderful human ability and once again about this nightmare war. I thought about this rare chance to stop it because we aren’t get used to it even in almost 3 months. All the world is still horrified. That’s very important. That’s why I continue to write these letters from the other side of the war. That’s crucial. Because there aren’t our houses and lives that are destroying this very moment. The real bombs from the real bombers are falling somewhere else, not where I write and you read this, my friend. But we’re trying to help, to do something, to stop the war to the extent of our horror and compassion.
But we in Russia are get used to the same people in power, who unleashed this insane, stupid and unhuman war. With the same thinking and methods. It’s not that big difference. Tortures? Yes, they are torture people in Russia. Rape? Yes, just unofficially. Murders? But of course! Mass murders? Just google about Chechnya. But we’re get used to it. It’s about 2 decades with our mr. Zed, and he’s just weak imitator of his predecessors.
But now I feel some wild hope. We couldn’t just tell him go away, see. Couldn’t even make him lose the next election. He fakes them. Maybe our mister has more chances to get rid of us who couldn't stand him anymore than we could say good riddance to him. He really knows how to accumulate and save the power, as nuts as he is. But now all of you and us there in Russia, who helps and saves Ukraine as the country (our mr Zed wants to destroy it completely, to make it part of Russia), are also helps and saves Russia. There’s the long way to freedom and maybe I’d rather live under our occupation (again: I think that Russia is occupied by the same ones who now trying to occupy and destroy Ukraine), than have this war. But it’s happening. And maybe when my Ukrainian brothers and sisters will win with the help of all the united world, then we will regain our freedom and our country as well.
To be continued…
These poison frogs live in a small area in Peru, but in Blijdorp they look different than in their own habitat. This is a form of camouflage.
P1160770 (2)
I chose the warlock Abramelin the Mage. He is not generally known today but continues to have thousands of imitators and followers since his existence in the 1400s. Powerful and expert on the Kabbalah. He learned his magical knowledge from Angels, who told him how to conjure and tame demons into personal servants and workers. Sidebar, they’re not very good cleaners.
Scholars note that Abramelin’s warlock abilities were based on symbols that could be used only by performing specific rituals at certain times. The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin (still available at Amazon!) was published in 1900. It immediately became a favorite among those involved in the occult.
Stylng:
Boots, coat, vest, pants, belt, and coat by Lenka Canvas for White Canvas, all but the boots I textured in authentic 15th Century fabrics.
Kabbalah tattoo by DiegoEstaban Burt.
Kabbalah Necklace by Sey
Tetragrammaton Amulet by DragonsLord.
Viola lace collar by Lassitude & Ennui
Elizabeth Brooch by AvaWay
Feathered Shoulder Wrap by Meli Imako
...and last but not least, Makeup by Zibska
Mimic Poison Frog (Ranitomeya imitator) - Cordillera Escalera Conservation Area, Peru
So I didn't get this image in time for fathers day, for which I posted a photo of a different poison frog, but I finally photographed my study species transporting his offspring! Like all poison frog species; parental care is exhibited in Ranitomeya imitator. The male carries his tadpoles around on his back for a period of time between a few hours to a few days until he finds a suitable pool of water to deposit them. This species uses small water pools to deposit a single tadpole in, the benefit is that these small pools of water don't contain competitors or predators, the drawback is that they don't contain enough nutrients for the tadpole to survive. much less grow, in unassisted. So the male mimic poison frog must remember exactly where he has deposited every tadpole and periodically check up on them, when they signal to him that they are hungry he goes and finds his mate. He then leads the female back to the tadpole and she will deposit a single egg in the water with the growing tadpole. If something happens to either the male or female before the tadpole is mature the tadpole will surely perish, each tadpole represents a relatively large time and energy investment by the parent frogs. It is always a rare treat to see a male dendrobatid transporting his tadpole.
three primates from Costa Rica. from Wiki: Four species of monkey are native to the forests of Costa Rica, the Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii), the Panamanian white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator), the mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) and Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi).All four species are classified scientifically as New World Monkeys. Two of the species, the Central American squirrel monkey and the white-faced capuchin, belong to the family Cebidae, the family containing the squirrel monkeys and capuchins. The other two species belong to the family Atelidae, the family containing the howler monkeys, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys and muriquis.[4][5] Each of the four species can be seen in national parks within Costa Rica, where viewing them in natural surroundings is a popular tourist attraction.[6][7] The only park in which all four species can be seen is Corcovado National Park, on the Osa Peninsula. Of these, the squirrel monkey is endangered, living only in secondary forests and partially logged primary forests on the central and south Pacific coast of Costa Rica, and on the Pacific coast of Panama near the Costa Rican border.
The coastal bluff along Torrey Pines State Beach is the opposite of these humans (don't get to close deadly landslides) but in this photo they seem to be imitating each other.
Our Daily Challenge:
OPPOSITES is the topic for Tuesday 25th August 2020
Jan van Eyck (Maaseik, c. 1390 - Bruges, June 1441) - Portrait of a man with carnation (c. 1435) - oil on oak wood 30 x 21.6 cm - Gemäldegalerie, Berlin
L’ignoto personaggio è insignito dell’ordine di Sant’Antonio (nato come sodalizio militare, poi diventato, nel 1420 sotto la reggenza di Jacoba di Baviera, una pia società), istituito da Alberto di Baviera, conte di Hainaut, nel 1382. In un’ordinanza del capitolo, emessa l’11 giugno del 1420, venne prescritto che il tau e il campanello delle dame e dei cavalieri fossero costituiti da argento dorato, mentre quelli dei membri provenienti dalla borghesia solo da argento.
Riguardo l’atteggiamento della critica verso questo magistrale ritratto bisogna dire che risulta assai diversificato e controverso. A tal proposito si riportano le vari ipotesi avanzate da illustri studiosi: Friedlànder [1924] era certo che si trattasse di un’opera autografa di Jan van Eyck e del periodo alquanto giovanile (intorno al 1422-25). Sottoscrisse tale certezza il Cornette [De portretten van Jan van Eyck, Antwerpen 1947], mentre il Beenken [1941], il Baldass [1952] e il Panofsky [1953] l’attribuivano invece ad un seguace o imitatore di Jan. Per lo Schenk [“ZK” 1949] si tratterebbe dell’autoritratto di Hubert van Eyck, fratello di Jan.
Lo stesso personaggio appare nelle vesti di uno dei Magi in un’Epifania (1490) del ‘Maestro dell’Altare di Aquisgrana’ (attivo a Colonia intorno al 1495-1525), appartenente alla collezione M. Neuerburg a Mehlem am Rhein [riprodotto in Weale (1908), e in Friedlànder (1967). Che si tratti di una derivazione dalla presente composizione e non d’una figura dal vero è dimostrato “ad abundantiam” dalla resa della mano, pari a quella della produzione vaneyckiana.
Fonti recenti (in Wikipedia, ma non le cita) indicano che l’Uomo col garofano è copia da van Eyck, posteriore al 1475, realizzata con tecnica ad olio su tavola.
The unknown personage is awarded the order of St. Anthony (born as a military fellowship, then became, in 1420 under the regency of Jacoba of Bavaria, a pious society), established by Albert of Bavaria, Count of Hainaut, in 1382. In an order of the chapter, issued on June 11, 1420, it was prescribed that the tau and the bell of the ladies and knights should be made of gilded silver, while those of the members coming from the bourgeoisie only of silver.
Regarding the attitude of the critics towards this masterly portrait it must be said that it is very diversified and controversial. In this regard we report the various hypotheses put forward by illustrious scholars: Friedlànder [1924] was certain that it was an autograph work by Jan van Eyck and of the rather youthful period (around 1422-25). The Cornette [De portretten van Jan van Eyck, Antwerpen 1947], while the Beenken [1941], the Baldass [1952] and the Panofsky [1953] attributed it to a follower or imitator of Jan. For the Schenk ["ZK" 1949] it would be the self-portrait of Hubert van Eyck, Jan's brother.
The same character appears as one of the Magi in an Epiphany (1490) of the 'Master of the Aachen Altar' (active in Cologne around 1495-1525), belonging to the M. Neuerburg collection in Mehlem am Rhein [reproduced in Weale (1908), and in Friedlànder (1967). Whether it is a derivation of the present composition and not a figure from life is demonstrated "ad abundantiam" by the yield of the hand, equal to that of Vaneyckian production.
Recent sources (in Wikipedia, but do not quote them) indicate that the Man with the Carnation is a copy by van Eyck, after 1475, made with oil technique on wood.
Designer Invitations will be delivered shortly! Sophia Harlow and Anessa Stine are the official event organizers for SHOETOPIA 2013, we have no other authorized representatives sending out invitations.
Blogger Applications will be open soon tooooo!
Note: Do not be fooled by imitators, this IS the official Shoe Fair for Second Life!
Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa - Italy
Oneto Tom (detail), 1882 by sculptor Giulio Monteverde (Bistagno 1837- Rome 1917)
This tomb was commissioned by Francesco Oneto, a rich merchant and President of the "Banca Generale". The angel, holding the trumpet of the Universal Judgment with its right hand, offers no consolatory gesture, but seems distant and imperturbable. The sensuality of this statue deeply shocked the contemporaries but enijoyed a greet success as well: it was replicated countless times, both by the artist himself and by his imitators; it can be found in various versions in many cemiteries in Italy, France, Germany, England and in North and South America.
------------------------------------------------View On Black--------------------------------------------
More pics of this tomb:
You may see other photos in my set "The Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa,Italy"
here: click here
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Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
You can see my most interesting photo's on flickr here
White-faced Capuchin
The Panamanian White-faced Capuchin (Cebus imitator), also known as the Panamanian White-headed Capuchin or Central American White-faced Capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae. Native to the forests of Central America, the white-faced capuchin is important to rainforest ecology for its role in dispersing seeds and pollen.
Among the best-known monkeys, the Panamanian White-faced Capuchin is recognized as the typical companion to the organ grinder. In recent years the species has become popular in American media, particularly in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. It is a highly intelligent monkey and has been trained to assist paraplegic persons. It is a medium-sized monkey, weighing up to 8 lb 10 oz. It is mostly black, but with a pink face and white on much of the front part of the body, giving it its common name. It has a distinctive prehensile tail that is often carried coiled up and is used to help support the monkey when it is feeding beneath a branch.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamanian_white-faced_capuchin
How long shall we remain as wavy reflections,
imitators of our own jacket’s frown? Who shall awaken first?
From Iowa Blues Bar Spiritual by Juan Felipe Herrera
A peaceful and serene evening stroll down Waitohu Streeam to Otaki Beach this evening... reflecting on our reflective world!
Reflective World Series July 2010 - #1
Hendrick Avercamp (Amsterdam, January 27, 1585 - Kampen (Overijssel), May 15, 1634) - Winter landscape with skaters (1634) - oil on panel 48 × 74.5 cm - Pinacoteca/Biblioteca Ambrosiana - Milan
Hendrick Avercamp è noto per essere l’ideatore delle scene di paesaggio invernale in Olanda; suo seguace per questa pittura di genere e per lo stile fu il nipote Barent, suo abile imitatore, al punto che per certe opere, come in questo caso, è difficile stabilire a quale dei due sia da attribuire un’opera. La scena ci propone una grande varietà di personaggi, alcuni dei quali resi con grande naturalezza, come ad esempio il pattinatore con le mani dietro la schiena o l’uomo che gioca con una trottola.
Hendrick Avercamp is known to be the creator of the winter landscape scenes in Holland; his follower for this genre painting and style was his nephew Barent, his skilled imitator, to the point that for certain works, as in this case, it is difficult to establish to which of the two is to be attributed a work. The scene offers us a wide variety of characters, some of them rendered with great naturalness, such as the skater with his hands behind his back or the man playing with a spinning top.
...is the highest form of flattery, as we've been told. And so here is my belated attempt at Tim's whiplash-inducing-unexplainably-popular-but-mysteriously-addictive technique known as the "Heyer Reduction." Check out the other imitators here and here.
Besides trying out a new technique, this image also serves two other purposes:
1. A nice break from my unending stream of pictures from Venice, and
2. A remembrance for the victims of 9/11, in light of OBL's demise/"reduction."
These days, Manuel Antonio National Park has strict rules around food. You can't bring your own. Staff at the entrance will search your bags to enforce this. And what food you buy from the cafeteria must be eaten in a caged seating area. The reason has to do with some very smart monkeys. Evidently, troops of capuchins would send their moms with babies out ahead to distract tourists so other troop members could sneak up and raid people's backpacks for tasty snacks. It was a recipe for aggressive monkeys and injured visitors. Now, with the "tourists = food" equation proven false, these capuchins seemed to totally ignore the people passing by them on the park's trails. This baby was the only one to look at my camera.
White-faced Capuchin
The Panamanian White-faced Capuchin (Cebus imitator), also known as the Panamanian White-headed Capuchin or Central American White-faced Capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae. Native to the forests of Central America, the white-faced capuchin is important to rainforest ecology for its role in dispersing seeds and pollen.
Among the best-known monkeys, the Panamanian White-faced Capuchin is recognized as the typical companion to the organ grinder. In recent years the species has become popular in American media, particularly in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. It is a highly intelligent monkey and has been trained to assist paraplegic persons. It is a medium-sized monkey, weighing up to 8 lb 10 oz. It is mostly black, but with a pink face and white on much of the front part of the body, giving it its common name. It has a distinctive prehensile tail that is often carried coiled up and is used to help support the monkey when it is feeding beneath a branch.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamanian_white-faced_capuchin
Panama-Kapuzineraffen erreichen Kopf-Rumpf-Längen von 34 bis 42 cm, dazu kommt noch ein 43 bis 46 cm langer Schwanz. Männchen sind mit einem Gewicht von 3,7 bis 3,9 kg mehr als ein Kilogramm schwerer als die Weibchen, die 2,6 bis 2,7 kg erreichen. Äußerlich sind die Affen fast nicht vom Weißschulterkapuziner (Cebus capucinus) zu unterscheiden. Weibchen besitzen jedoch leicht bräunlich getönte, etwa 4 cm lang werdende Haare auf der Stirn, die mit dem ansonsten weißen Gesicht kontrastieren.
Hendrick Avercamp (Amsterdam, January 27, 1585 - Kampen (Overijssel), May 15, 1634) - Winter landscape with skaters (1634) - oil on panel 48 × 74.5 cm - Pinacoteca/Biblioteca Ambrosiana - Milan
Hendrick Avercamp è noto per essere l’ideatore delle scene di paesaggio invernale in Olanda; suo seguace per questa pittura di genere e per lo stile fu il nipote Barent, suo abile imitatore, al punto che per certe opere, come in questo caso, è difficile stabilire a quale dei due sia da attribuire un’opera. La scena ci propone una grande varietà di personaggi, alcuni dei quali resi con grande naturalezza, come ad esempio il pattinatore con le mani dietro la schiena o l’uomo che gioca con una trottola.
Hendrick Avercamp is known to be the creator of the winter landscape scenes in Holland; his follower for this genre painting and style was his nephew Barent, his skilled imitator, to the point that for certain works, as in this case, it is difficult to establish to which of the two is to be attributed a work. The scene offers us a wide variety of characters, some of them rendered with great naturalness, such as the skater with his hands behind his back or the man playing with a spinning top.
Hendrick Avercamp (Amsterdam, January 27, 1585 - Kampen (Overijssel), May 15, 1634) - Winter landscape with skaters (1634) - oil on panel 48 × 74.5 cm - Pinacoteca/Biblioteca Ambrosiana - Milan
Hendrick Avercamp è noto per essere l’ideatore delle scene di paesaggio invernale in Olanda; suo seguace per questa pittura di genere e per lo stile fu il nipote Barent, suo abile imitatore, al punto che per certe opere, come in questo caso, è difficile stabilire a quale dei due sia da attribuire un’opera. La scena ci propone una grande varietà di personaggi, alcuni dei quali resi con grande naturalezza, come ad esempio il pattinatore con le mani dietro la schiena o l’uomo che gioca con una trottola.
Hendrick Avercamp is known to be the creator of the winter landscape scenes in Holland; his follower for this genre painting and style was his nephew Barent, his skilled imitator, to the point that for certain works, as in this case, it is difficult to establish to which of the two is to be attributed a work. The scene offers us a wide variety of characters, some of them rendered with great naturalness, such as the skater with his hands behind his back or the man playing with a spinning top.
The Dutch Baroque architecture of Het Loo takes pains to minimize the grand stretch of its construction, so emphatic at Versailles, and present itself as just a fine gentleman's residence. Het Loo is not a palace but, as the title of its engraved portrait (illustration, below) states, a "Lust-hof" (a retreat, or "pleasure house"). Nevertheless, it is situated entre cour et jardin ("between court and garden") as Versailles and its imitators, and even as fine Parisian private houses are. The dry paved and gravelled court, lightly screened from the road by a wrought-iron grill, is domesticated by a traditional plat of box-bordered green, the homey touch of a cross in a circle you'd find in a bougeois garden. The volumes of the palace are rhythmically broken in their massing. They work down symmetrically, expressing the subordinate roles of their use and occupants, and the final outbuildings in Marot's plan extend along the public thoroughfare, like a well-made and delightfully regular street.
Garden
The private "Great Garden" is situated in the back. This Dutch Baroque garden, often mislabeled the "Versailles of Holland", actually serves to show more differences than similarities. It is still within the general Baroque formula established by André Le Nôtre: perfect symmetry, axial layout with radiating gravel walks, parterres with fountains, basins and statues.
The garden as it appears in the engraving was designed by Le Nôtre's nephew, Claude Desgotz.[1] Throughout his military and diplomatic career, William of Orange was the continental antagonist of Louis XIV, the commander of the forces opposed to those of absolute power and Roman Catholicism. André Le Nôtre's main axis at Versailles, continued by the canal, runs up to the horizon. Daniel Marot and Desgotz's Het Loo garden does not dominate the landscape as Louis' German imitators do, though in his idealized plan, Desgotz extends the axis. The main garden, with conservative rectangular beds instead of more elaborately shaped ones, is an enclosed space surrounded by raised walks, as a Renaissance garden might be, tucked into the woods for private enjoyment, the garden not of a king but of a stadhouder. At its far end a shaded crosswalk of trees disguised the central vista. The orange trees set out in wooden boxes and wintered in an Orangery, which were a feature of all gardens, did double duty for the House of Orange-Nassau.
Outside the garden there are a few straight scenic avenues, for following the hunt in a carriage, or purely for the vista afforded by an avenue. Few of the "green rooms" cut into the woodlands in imitation of the cabinets de verdure of Versailles that are shown in the engraving actually got executed at Het Loo.
The patron of the Sun King's garden was Apollo. Peter the Great would opt for Samson, springing the jaws of Sweden's heraldic lion. William opted for Hercules.
In the 18th century, William III’s baroque garden as seen in the engraving was replaced by a landscape park in the English taste.
Manhunt
(1953-67, St. John Publications/Flying Eagle)
Contributors included: James M. Cain, Ed McBain, Evan Hunter , Mickey Spillane
Manhunt has come to be regarded by some as probably the most important outlet for "hard-boiled" fiction after Black Mask and Dime Detective. The excellent introduction to Bill Pronzini and Jack Adrian's Hard-Boiled notes that the original Manhunt was launched with a January 1953 issue that featured a new serialized Mickey Spillane novel, and folded in 1967. It inspired a slew of imitators, including Flying Eagle's own Murder!, Verdict, Menace, and Mantrap, as well as efforts by other publishers, such as Pursuit and Trapped. There was even a "best-of-Manhunt" paperback collection published in 1958.
(Todd Mason)
Native to most of temperate North America east of the Rocky Mountains, Gray Catbirds migrate to the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean in winter. Spring migration ranges from March to May, and in the fall from late August to November.
The Gray Catbird is a medium-sized, slender songbird. Length varies from 8.3 - 9.4 inches (21 - 24 cm) with a wingspan of 8.7 - 11.8 inches (22 -30 cm). Adults are dark gray with a slim, black bill and dark eyes. They have a long dark tail, fairly long and dark legs and a dark cap; they are rust-colored underneath their tail, which is usually not visible. Both the male and female are similar in appearance and nearly impossible to distinguish apart.
Catbirds are secretive but energetic, hopping and fluttering from branch to branch through tangles of vegetation. Singing males sit atop shrubs and small trees. Catbirds are reluctant to fly across open areas, preferring quick, low flights over vegetation.
Look for Gray Catbirds in dense tangles of shrubs, small trees, and vines, along forest edges, streamside thickets, old fields, and fencerows.
The Grey Catbird is a member of the mimid family. It is the only member of New World catbird genus Dumetella. Mimids are the New World family of passerine birds, Mimidae, that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds like the Black Catbird found in Mexico and Central America. As their name (Latin for "mimic") suggests, these birds are notable for their vocalization, especially some species' remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors...although the Catbird is considered a poor imitator in comparison to the Mockingbird.
ISO800, aperture f/6.3, exposure .003 seconds (1/400) focal length 450mm
Fantastic Poison Frog (Ranitomeya fantastica) - Cordillera Escalera Conservation Area, Peru
This is Ranitomeya fantastica a close relative of the frogs I study, R. imitator and variabilis. This is easily one of the most impressive species in the area, like the other Ranitomeya it is small but there is no denying that it is gorgeous. It is an uncommon & endemic resident of the jungles of Peru, found nowhere else in the world besides a relatively small swathe of Eastern Peru. This individual was the first Ranitomeya I encountered about a month ago when I arrived in Peru. I didn't realize it at the time but this color is actually unusual for the fantastica in the area, usually only the head is orange with white on the body. Various areas contain differently colored fantastica and I will be posting some others later on. This species has been a victim of its own charisma and has been smuggled out of the country and illegal harvesting for the pet trade continues. However for most populations the greatest threat is deforestation, this individual lives in a protected areas but many live on private land. Due to the pressures and threats facing this species, IUCN has listed them as Near Threatened.
20230809
Fototour der Dormagener Fotogruppe, Netzwerk 55plus.
Kölner Kirchen, St. Maria im Kapitol,
Ida (* vor 1025; † 7. oder 8. April 1060) war eine bedeutende Äbtissin des Kölner Stifts St. Maria im Kapitol.
Gebeine / der seligen Ida / welche / der Selige Erenfried Pfalzgraf Von Mathilde / des erhabenen Otto des II Tochter, des III. Schwester / zur Tochter hatte / Hermann II Erzbischof / zur Schwester / dieses angesehene Collegium des Capitols / zur Äbtissin / die hl. Adelheid, der sie sehr teuer war, hatte sie in Leben und Amtsführung zur Nachahmerin / Im Jahre 1060 in diesem Tempel / bestattet. / Aus dem alten Grab zur Bewunderung durch das Volk /, das einst an der Nordwand errichtet, / hierhin umgebettet / Im Jahr 1746.
Die Inschrift betont, ähnlich wie die ihrer Schwester Theophanu, Idas Abstammung aus dem Kaisergeschlecht der Ottonen. Als Idas Vorbild wird ihre Vorgängerin Adelheid von Vilich genannt, die zwischen 1010 und 1021 Äbtissin in St. Maria im Kapitol war und deren Kult Idas Schwester Mathilde, Äbtissin von Vilich, stark gefördert hatte.
Cologne churches, St. Maria in the Capitol,
Ida (* before 1025; † April 7 or 8, 1060) was an important abbess of the Cologne monastery of St. Maria im Kapitol.
Bones / of the blessed Ida / which / the blessed Erenfried Pfalzgraf von Mathilde / the sublime Otto II's daughter, III. Sister / had as a daughter / Archbishop Hermann II / as a sister / this distinguished Collegium of the Capitol / as an abbess / St. Adelheid, to whom she was very dear, had buried her in life and in office as an imitator / In the year 1060 in this temple /. / From the old tomb for the admiration of the people / that was once built on the north wall / moved here / in 1746.
The inscription, like that of her sister Theophanu, emphasizes Ida's descent from the Ottonian imperial family. Her predecessor Adelheid von Vilich, who was abbess in St. Maria im Kapitol between 1010 and 1021 and whose cult had strongly promoted Ida's sister Mathilde, abbess of Vilich, is named as Ida's role model.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA.
The Imitator Salamander is not toxic, but is thought to be a Batesian mimic of the Red-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon jordani), which is a noxious species
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French cigarette card by Cigarettes Le Nil, no. 38. Photo: H. Manuel.
Recently I bought this little cigarette card (only 4 by 6 cm) and wondered if the Souricette on the picture could be the French actress Musidora (1889-1957). With her heavily kohled dark eyes, somewhat sinister make-up, pale skin and exotic wardrobes, she created an unforgettable vamp persona. She is best known for her role in the Louis Feuillade serials Les Vampires (1915-1916) as Irma Vep, the voluptuous, amoral villainess, who wears the same black leotard, hood and tights as the pictured Souricette.
I googled Musidora and found images of her in the same style, but not this picture. Nor did I find an indication that her picture was used by Cigarettes Le Nil. So I asked two ladies for help. First I mailed with Marlene Pilaete of La Collectionneuse and asked her if this could be Musidora or a mere imitator. Marlene is a real Mrs. Sherlock who often helps me with little mysteries at European Film Star Postcards and corrects my errors. She replied me: "This cigarette card is a good find. Of course, I cannot be sure at 100% but I really think she’s Musidora. Her distinctive face is recognizable. I have among my vintage Musidora cards one on which she is exactly dressed the same way (but the pose is different). I even recognize her shoes. Musidora has been photographed several times by the Manuel studios, so this is a further clue. I don’t know why she is called 'Souricette' on this cigarette card. She is dressed here in her famous costume from Les vampires. It’s a typical outfit worn by the thieves operating in hotels. You certainly remember that in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, Cary Grant and Brigitte Auber also wear this kind of leotard. In French, those thieves are called 'souris d’hôtel'. 'Souricette' being a kind of diminutive form of 'souris', maybe that’s where the publishers got their idea."
I also contacted Dutch film historian Annette Förster, author of Women in Silent Cinema. Histories of Fame and Fate , which is selected for the Choice Outstanding Academic Titles list 2017. Her book is a study on the comprehensive accounts of the professional itineraries of three women in the international silent cinema: Dutch stage and film actress Adriënne Solser, Canadian-born actress and filmmaker Nell Shipman, and Musidora. Annette wrote me: "I'm pretty sure that this is Musidora, not so much because of all similarities, but mainly because of the dog in the lower right corner: that is her own dog Lacsalé! He is also on other publicity photos of Musidora, such as those by Photogenie that she had sent to Cinéa (see my book on page 243). What a great find!"
Thank you, Marlène and Annette, and to Lacsalé!
A mentor, friend and all around wise man once said to me, "A ten minute walk will get you away from the crowds with interesting results." Like a lot of you, whenever I chase locally, I always try a lesser known location or two. It helps keep the creative spark afloat, and I mean, we've all seen the 'signature'' shots repeatedly, right? What do I have to lose? If it works, great...if not, no big deal. Conversely, what do I have to gain by copying a shot I saw on someone else's photostream? Zero. In short, it's worth the minimal effort. With that in mind, I noticed this spot on the Grafton and Upton Railroad several years ago that seems to be passed over in favor of the nearby Freedom St shot (which personally I've never liked, but that's just me). It was a matter of waiting for a good leader. Well, it all came together nicely on the morning of 10/31/24 as GU1 made an early run south with recently rebuilt, repainted and reactivated ex-GTW GP9R 1751 out front. I even managed to hide the garbage patched trailing units and get a few late fall colors that were hanging on. And since the location is now out on social media, I'm sure the usual imitators will follow. That's just the way it is.