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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.
A slice of Victoria sponge anyone.
(Actually made in the Cosori Air Fryer as an experiment - it was delicious.)
The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Thanks very much Sharon for setting these super themes.
In this month's challenge, 12 members entered 112 photos, and 9 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order were: Ms J, Robin, Maria, Sandi, Pat, Sharon, Dave, Andy and Carissa.
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.
Opps - 🙀 - I forgot to set the link to December most Versatile post. But it's done now. 😊 (Sat 7th)
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.
Looking for a hairstyle that combines elegance and versatility? This stunning creation is a must-have! Designed with exceptional detail, it flows naturally and enhances any look, whether you're dressing up or keeping it casual. What makes this collaboration so unique? It features Ives' expert touch on the skin, Fio’s stylish and modern clothing, and Top1salon’s breathtaking makeup artistry, all inspired by Winter from the K-pop group AESPA. Elevate your style with this masterpiece, perfect for showcasing your individuality and love for fashion. Ready to transform your look? This hair is the final touch your avatar needs!
Like, share and comment your inworld name on FB and like and comment on Flickr for a chance of win 2000 in store credit. We will be picking 2 winners.
Left outfit by Pixicat, right outfit by Fio's, Eyes by AG and Odio.
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!!
Cute Pixie Haircut with Versatile Bangs
sarasotabradentonhairsalon.com/cute-pixie-haircut-with-ve...
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.
Italian postcard by Rotalfoto (Rotalcolor), Milano, no. N. 203.
Italian actress Claudia Cardinale (1938) is one of Europe's iconic and most versatile film stars. The combination of her beauty, dark, flashing eyes, explosive sexuality and genuine acting talent virtually guaranteed her stardom. Her most notable films include 8½ (Federico Fellini, 1963), Il Gattopardo/The Leopard (Luchino Visconti, 1963) and Once Upon a Time in the West (Sergio Leone, 1968).
Claude Joséphine Rose Cardinale was born in La Goulette in Tunisia in 1938 (some sources claim 1939). Her mother, Yolande Greco, was born in Tunisia to Italian (Sicilian) emigrants from Trapani, Italy. Her father was an Italian (Sicilian) railway worker, born in Gela, Italy. Her native languages were Tunisian Arabic and French. She received a French education and she had to learn Italian once she pursued her acting career. She had her break in films after she was voted the most beautiful Italian girl in Tunisia in 1957. The contest of the Italian embassy had as a prize a trip to the Venice Film Festival. She made her film debut in the French-Tunisian coproduction Goha (Jacques Baratier, 1958) starring Omar Sharif. After attending the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome for two months, she signed a 7-year contract with the Vides studios. The contract forbade her to cut her hair, to marry or to gain weight. Later that year she had a role in the heist comedy I soliti ignoti/Big Deal On Madonna Street (Mario Monicelli, 1958) with Vittorio Gassman and Renato Salvatori. The film was an international success, and her film career was off and running. At this point, the press, noting her initials, announced that CC was the natural successor to BB (Brigitte Bardot), and began beating the drum on her behalf. Dozens of alluring photographs of Claudia Cardinale were displayed in newspapers and magazines throughout the world. According to IMDb, she has appeared on more than 900 magazine covers in over 25 countries. The contrast between these pictures and those of Marilyn Monroe or Jayne Mansfield is striking. Cardinale never appeared in a nude or fully topless scene. Her pictures promoted an image of a shy family girl who just happened to have a beautiful face and a sexy body. A photograph of Cardinale was featured in the original gate fold artwork to Bob Dylan's album Blonde on Blonde (1966), but because it was used without Cardinale's permission, the photo was removed from the cover art in later pressings.
Claudia Cardinale's early career was largely managed producer Franco Cristaldi. Because of her film contract, she told everyone that her son Patrizio was her baby brother. He was born out of wedlock when she was 17; the father was a mysterious Frenchman. She did not reveal to the child that he was her son until he was 19 years old. In 1966, she married Cristaldi, who adopted Patrizio. In only three years she made a stream of great films. First she made three successful comedies, Un Maledetto imbroglio/The Facts of Murder (Pietro Germi, 1959), Il Bell'Antonio/Bell'Antonio (Mauro Bolognini, 1960) featuring Marcello Mastroianni, and Audace colpo dei soliti ignoti/Fiasco in Milan (Nanni Loy, 1960). Cardinale had a supporting part in the epic drama Rocco e i suoi fratelli/Rocco and His Brothers (Luchino Visconti, 1960) in which she played the sister-in-law of Alain Delon and Renato Salvatori. And then followed leading parts in La Ragazza con la valigia/Girl with a Suitcase (Valerio Zurlini, 1961), La Viaccia/The Lovemakers (Mauro Bolognini, 1961) with Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Senilità/Careless (Mauro Bolognini, 1961). Claudia Cardinale had a deep, sultry voice and spoke Italian with a heavy French accent, so her voice was dubbed in her early films. In Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963), she was finally allowed to dub her own dialogue. In the film, she plays a dream woman - a character named Claudia, who is the object of the fantasies of the director in the film, played by Marcello Mastroianni. With Fellini's surrealistic masterpiece she received her widest exposure to date with this film. That same year, she also appeared in another masterpiece of the Italian cinema, the epic Il Gattopardo/The Leopard (Luchino Visconti, 1963) with Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon. The combined success of these two classic films made her rise to the front ranks of the Italian cinema. And it also piqued Hollywood's interest.
In 1963 Claudia Cardinale played the princess who owned the Pink Panther diamond in The Pink Panther (Blake Edwards, 1963) which was filmed in Italy. It was the first in the series of detective comedies starring Peter Sellers as bumbling French Inspector Jacques Clouseau (the mishap-prone snoop was actually a supporting player in his debut). The film was an enormous success and brought CC to English speaking audiences. In 1964 she co-starred with John Wayne and Rita Hayworth in her first American production, Circus World (Henry Hathaway, 1964). It was another box-office hit. The following year she appeared with Rock Hudson in Blindfold (Philip Dunne, 1966), an offbeat mixture of espionage and slapstick comedy. The Professionals (Richard Brooks, 1966) is her favourite among her Hollywood films. In this Western she is a gutsy Mexican woman married against her will to a rich American. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Direction (Richard Brooks), Best Screenplay (Brooks again), and Best Cinematography (Conrad L. Hall). Cardinale continued dividing her time between Hollywood and Europe for the remainder of the decade. Throughout the 1960s, Claudia Cardinale also appeared in some of the best European films. In France she appeared in the Swashbuckler Cartouche (Philippe de Broca, 1962) featuring Jean-Paul Belmondo. Back in Italy, she played in I Giorno della civetta/The Day of the Owl (Damiano Damiani, 1968) with Franco Nero, and Nell'anno del Signore/The Conspirators (Luigi Magni, 1969) with Nino Manfredi. Mesmerizing is her performance in Sandra/Vaghe stelle dell'Orsa... (Luchino Visconti, 1965) as a Holocaust survivor with an incestuous relationship with her brother (Jean Sorel). Another highlight in her career is C'era una volta il West/Once Upon a Time in the West (Sergio Leone, 1968), the ultimate Spaghetti Western. Lucia Bozzola writes in her review at AllMovie: "In Sergio Leone's epic Western, shot partly in Monument Valley, a revenge story becomes an epic contemplation of the Western past. (...) As in his 'Dollars' trilogy, Leone transforms the standard Western plot through the visual impact of widescreen landscapes and the figures therein. At its full length, Once Upon a Time in the West is Leone's operatic masterwork, worthy of its legend-making title."
In the following decades, Claudia Cardinale remained mainly active in the European cinema. She played a small part for Visconti in Gruppo di famiglia in un interno/Conversation Piece (Luchino Visconti, 1974) starring Burt Lancaster and Silvana Mangano. She worked with other major Italian directors at Goodbye e amen (Damiano Damiani, 1977), the TV mini-series Jesus of Nazareth (Franco Zeffirelli, 1977) as the adulteress, and La Pelle/The Skin (Liliana Cavani, 1981) starring Marcello Mastroianni and based on the bitter novel by Curzio Malaparte concerning the Allied liberation of Naples. An international arthouse hit was Fitzcarraldo (Werner Herzog, 1982), the story of an obsessed impresario (Klaus Kinski) whose foremost desire in life is to bring both Enrico Caruso and an opera house to the deepest jungles of South America. In his diary of the making of Fitzcarraldo, Werner Herzog writes: "Claudia Cardinale is great help because she is such a good sport, a real trouper, and has a special radiance before the camera. In her presence, [Klaus Kinski] usually acts like a gentleman." Other interesting films include the Luigi Pirandello adaptation Enrico IV/Henry IV (Marco Bellocchio, 1984) with Marcello Mastroianni, the epic La révolution française/The French Revolution (Robert Enrico, Richard T. Heffron, 1989), the nostalgic drama Mayrig/Mother (Henri Verneuil, 1991), and the romantic thriller And now... Ladies and Gentlemen (Claude Lelouch, 2002) starring Jeremy Irons. On Television she gave another well-received performance in the TV drama La storia/History (Luigi Comencini, 1986), in which she plays a widow raising a son during World War II.
Claudia Cardinale is a liberal with strong political convictions. She is involved in many humanitarian causes, and pro-women and pro-gay issues, and she has frequently stated her pride in her Tunisian and Arab roots - as evidenced by her appearance as herself in the Tunisian film Un été à La Goulette/A Summer at La Goulette (Férid Boughedir, 1996). She has managed to combine her acting work with a role of goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, and advocate for the work of Luchino Visconti with whom she made four films. She wrote an autobiography, Moi Claudia, Toi Claudia (Me Claudia, You Claudia). In 2005, she also published a French-language book, Mes Etoiles (My Stars), about her personal and professional relationships with many of her directors and co-stars through her nearly 50 years in show-business. In 2002, she won an honorary Golden Bear award of the Berlin Film Festival, and previously in 1993 she was awarded an honorary Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Cardinale works steadily on and in recent years she has also worked in the theatre. In the cinema she appeared recently in the French-Tunisian gay drama Le fil/The String (Mehdi Ben Attia, 2009), the Algerian drama Un balcon sur la mer/A View of Love (Nicole Garcia, 2010) in which she played the mother of Jean Dujardin, and the costume drama Effie Gray (Richard Laxton, 2014) with Dakota Fanning. Claudia Cardinale currently lives in Paris. She has made over 135 films in the past 60 years and still does two or three a year.
Sources: Lucia Bozzola (AllMovie), Steve Rose (The Guardian), IMDb, and Wikipedia.
And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.
Versatile, cozy, and stylish. Available in a variety of rich colors and unique prints for endless combinations.
Includes both PBR & legacy versions.
For LaraX, PetiteX, Meshbody Legacy, Legacy Perky Petite, Legacy Pinup X Bombshell, Ebody Reborn.
Sold separately.
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
Like most hairless dog breeds, the Chinese Crested dog comes in two varieties, with and without fur, which are born in the same litter: the Powderpuff and the Hairless. FouFou is a Powderpuff.
At first look, the Hairless and Powderpuff varieties of Chinese Crested Dogs appear to be two different breeds, but hairlessness is an incomplete dominant trait within a single breed. The Hairless has soft, humanlike skin, as well as tufts of fur on its paws ("socks") and tail ("plume") and long, flowing hair on its head ("crest").
The difference between a very hairy Hairless and a Powderpuff is that the Hairless has a single coat with hairless parts on the body, while the Powderpuff has a thick, long and soft double coat.
Both Hairless and Powderpuff varieties can appear in the same litter. The look of the Powderpuff varies according to how it is groomed. When its fur is completely grown out on its face, it strongly resembles a terrier; however, the Powderpuff is usually shaved around the snout as a standard cut. Ears are large and erect.
Powderpuffs enjoy getting outdoors for daily exercise, although they are not a high energy breed. They are great for apartment or city living, but being very versatile, also love country living and long hikes.
Being a very intelligent breed, this dog does well in obedience type sports. Consistency is a must, however this breed can be relatively sensitive and should have a gentle trainer. The Powderpuff is great at learning and performing tricks.
Although hairless dogs have been found in many places in the world, it is unlikely that the origins of the modern Chinese Crested Dog are in China. The breed was believed by some to have originated in Africa and was called the African Hairless Terrier in several 19th century texts. The current name of the breed likely comes from their use on Chinese ships as ratters. They are also believed to have been bred as a companion for people living with an intellectual disability and as such can remain healthy with little exercise. The Powderpuff Chinese Crested Dog is an elegant and graceful dog who makes a loving companion, playful and entertaining.
This montage is a representative selection of the ten themes, and contains at least one image per theme and at least one image per member. This particular canvas showcases 13 photos, selected from the 80 photos entered by 10 members, 3 of whom completed all ten themes.
To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Thank you Sharon for this fab Compositionally Challenged Group challenge.
This montage is a representative selection of the ten themes, and contains at least one image per theme and at least one image per member. This particular canvas showcases 13 photos, selected from the 93 photos (a new record) entered by 10 members, 7 of whom completed all ten themes.
To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Thanks Sharon for this brill Compositionally Challenged Group challenge.
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.
CC Most Versatile
November 4, 2023 is the date in which the city and county of Monterey celebrated the return of the Western Flyer, a boat famous for taking John Steinbeck and his biologist friend down to Mexico for a memorable trip that was later the subject of the book, "Sea Of Cortez" written by Steinbeck and Ed "Doc" Ricketts. I was lucky to be able to be present at the celebration. The boat was docked near the end of Old Fisherman's Wharf, and hundreds of people stopped by to take a look. The people pictured lined up an hour before the tours began in order not to miss this unique opportunity to see it inside and out.
See various articles about the boat on the Western Flyer Foundation's website.
Compositionally Challenged November's most versatile Early to bed. The sun sets early now, around 5.
The Centaur APC is a versatile, lightweight, rugged and affordable APC that has become the backbone of SAA forces since it's introduction in the early 50's. Carrying 8 dismounts and a crew of either 2 or 3 the Centaur and it's variants have found their way into nearly every branch of the South African military. This little battle taxi is still soldiering on nearly 40 years after its introduction but it is beginning to show its age as its thin armor and light armament have begun to catch up with it.
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.
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
1991 Ford Versatile 9030 4WD bi-directional loader tractor.
An import from the USA registered in April 1992.
Cheffins vintage and classic auction, Sutton -
"1991 FORD VERSATILE 9030 Bi-Directional diesel TRACTOR Reg. No. J110 JHG Serial No. D470150 Reported by the vendor to be a one owner tractor with 6,011 hours showing."
Unsold.
The versatile 88mm cannon was Germany’s main heavy antiaircraft—or “flak”—gun during World War II. When an 88mm projectile exploded at altitude, it sent out jagged metal fragments that tore through nearby aircraft. It also left a characteristic black cloud hanging in the sky.
The 88mm cannon’s high-velocity fire also made it a deadly antitank gun, and it could be used as conventional artillery against distant ground targets. Other versions equipped heavy tanks and submarines.
The Museum’s 88mm cannon is painted as a typical weapon used in Europe during the strategic bombing campaign. The rings around the barrel represent aircraft shot down by the gun crew.
This aircraft is an Ikarus C42 FB80, a light sport aircraft known for its versatility and popularity among flying enthusiasts. This particular model has a history of flights that can be tracked online, providing insights into its flight patterns and usage. The Ikarus C42 is a significant choice for pilot training and recreational flying due to its reliability and ease of handling. Aircrafts like this contribute to the vibrant general aviation community, allowing pilots to explore the skies and enjoy the freedom of flight. For those interested in aviation, tracking the journeys of aircraft such as this can be a fascinating way to understand more about the world of flying.
The Ikarus C42 FB80 is a variant of the well-known Ikarus C42, a two-seat, fixed tricycle gear, general aviation microlight aircraft. This model is celebrated for its versatility and is commonly used for flight training, touring, and personal flying. It features a high-wing monoplane design with a spacious 1.22 m wide cabin, providing comfortable side-by-side seating for two. The FB80 variant is equipped with an 80 hp Rotax 912 engine, known for its fuel efficiency and low noise levels, making it a popular choice among flying enthusiasts and flight schools alike. However, it's important to note that there have been instances of safety concerns, such as an in-flight battery fire reported in December 2022, which highlights the importance of rigorous maintenance and safety checks. Despite this, the Ikarus C42 series remains a respected name in the light aircraft sector, with continuous improvements and updates to enhance its performance and safety features.
The website www.flyMAC.co.uk currently takes you to Airbourne Aviation which is associated with a variety of services and products. Learning to fly with Airbourne Aviation is thier passion. As one of the longest-running flight training schools in the UK, Airbourne Aviation has been successfully helping students fulfil their dream of becoming a pilot for over 40 years. They have built a reputation for being the most popular, successful and trusted flying school in the country.
Instructors are ready to turn your dream of flight into reality today. Flight training starts at just £175 per hour including VAT and they offer flight experience options that make a fantastic gift idea.
The aircraft is at Popham Airfield, which is located near Basingstoke in Hampshire, England, and is a hub for general aviation enthusiasts. With a rich history spanning over 50 years, it offers a variety of services including recreational flying, flight training, and aircraft maintenance. The airfield hosts several events throughout the year, such as the Microlight Trade Fair and the Motorcycle Mega Meet & Vintage Aircraft Fly-in. It's also equipped with two grass runways and operates on specific radio frequencies for communication. Popham Airfield is a testament to the vibrant aviation community in the south of England, providing a space where pilots, trainees, and visitors can share their passion for flying.
Versatile Eyeshadow Collection, is a set available for Lelutka EvoX, sold in the BOM version - FATPACK for 69L
ᴛʀʏ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴍᴏ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴘᴜʀᴄʜᴀsᴇ
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.
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.
This is the corner of my desk - I just liked the pattern it made.
Also for the CC Versatile challenge on Wood.
An extremely versatile 6×6cm twin-lens focusing reflex taking twelve pictures on 120 roll film. Although this camera is priced at the lower end of the scale, it incorporates most features required by the keen beginner and yet has a performance that will satisfy the critical user.
The lens is a 75mm coated f/4.5, which focuses down to 4'. The leaf shutter is behind the lens, has five speeds from 1/15th to 1/250th second, and is synchronized for flash.