Silhouettes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘marine’, derived from mare (‘sea’).

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting this species, are shown on the page Plants: Ancient and huge trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This smallish tree, growing to 15 m tall, is native to the boreal zone of Eurasia, far into Siberia. It has become naturalized elsewhere, including North America. The specific name is derived from the Greek pente (‘five’), referring to the male flowers, which have five stamens. The common name refers to the glossy, dark green leaves, which resemble those bay laurel (Laurus nobilis).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The white-fronted goose is divided into five subspecies, breeding along the entire northern Siberian coastal areas, in Alaska and northern Canada, and western Greenland. The wintering areas include northern Ireland, northern Scotland, Holland, northern Germany, Hungary, the northern Black Sea coast, Iraq, the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, Japan, Korea, south-eastern China, southern United States, and northern Mexico.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many pictures, depicting fishing and fishermen, are shown on the page Fishing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Udaipur was founded in 1559 during the reign of Maharana Udai Singh II, the ruler of Chittorgarh, further north. Chittorgarh, situated in a flat tableland, was vulnerable to attacks from the Maharana’s enemies, notably Muslims, who had conquered parts of northern India.

Following the emergence of artillery warfare in the 16th century, Udai Singh decided to move his capital to a more secure location, choosing Ayad. However, as Ayad was prone to flooding, he decided to establish his new capital on a ridge east of the Pichola Lake. To protect the new city from attacks, Udai Singh ordered a 6-km-long wall, with seven gates, to be built around the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The winter months are spent in the southern half of North America, in Central America and the Caribbean, in the major part of Europe and the Middle East, in northern and eastern Africa, and in the Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, southern China, Taiwan, and the northern Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name refers to an old belief that the leaves of this plant could treat scabies.

 

 

 

 

 

The original castle was a small fort, built around 1320 by Clan MacDougall, but it is believed that Clan Stewart of Appin erected the castle in its present form around the 1440s. Following some drunken bet, it was passed on to Clan Campbell around 1620. In 1908, it was bought by Charles Stewart of Achara, who carried out basic conservation work. In 1965 Lt. Col. D.R. Stewart Allward acquired the castle and fully restored it. The castle is open to the public at selected times during the summer. (Source: CastleStalker.com)

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting the great white egret, are shown on the pages Animals – Birds: Birds in Taiwan, and Birds in the United States and Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting the great blue heron, are shown on the page Animals – Birds: Birds in the United States and Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic and specific names are derived from Ancient Greek nyktos (‘night’) and korax (‘raven’), referring to the mainly nocturnal feeding habits of this bird, and to its hoarse, raven-like call.

It figures in Japanese classical folklore, where it is called Goi-sagi, from goi (‘fifth rank’) and sagi (‘heron’). According to legend, the all-powerful Emperor Daigo (reigned 897-930 A.D.) ordered a vassal to capture a black-crowned night-heron. Upon hearing the imperial command, the heron submitted itself to capture. The emperor was pleased that the heron had confirmed his omnipotence over nature as well as man, whereupon he granted it the title ‘king of the herons’ and the position of fifth rank in his court, and released it unharmed. (Source: Jobling, 2010)

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from the Greek rhiza (‘root’) and phoros (‘bearing’), referring to the aerial roots.

The red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) is widespread, found along coasts of southern North America, Central America, and northern South America, on islands in the Pacific, and along tropical coasts of West Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previously, it was thought that 4 acacia species occurred in this vast area, but research has shown that they are all subspecies of V. tortilis. (Source: fao.org/3/Q2934E)

Other species of acacia are described on the page In praise of the colour yellow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting Jama Mashid, are shown on the page Religion: Islam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting this species, are shown on the page Plants: Plants of Sierra Nevada.

 

 

 

 

 

Many subspecies have been described, divided into two main groups. Members of the ellipsiprymnus group have an elliptic white marking on the rump, which gave rise to the specific name, from the Greek ellipes (‘ellipse’) and prymnos (‘rump’). The other group is defassa, whose members have a white patch on the rump. Initially, the latter was described in 1835 by German naturalist Wilhelm Eduard Rüppell (1794-1884) as a separate species, which he named Antilope defassa, from its Amharic name. Today, however, most taxonomists regard the two groups as a single species, as they interbreed, where their ranges overlap.

Subspecies, which belong to ellipsiprymnus, are found from eastern Kenya and Tanzania southwards to north-eastern South Africa, whereas the defassa subspecies occupy the remaining distribution area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is the classical Latin name of the common, or English, ivy (Hedera helix), which is distributed in most of Europe and western Asia. The specific name is Greek, meaning ‘twisted’ or ‘spiralled’, which of course refers to its climbing habit. The common name ivy is from Old English ifig, from the German Efeu, which is of unknown origin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerous other squirrel species are described on the page Animals – Mammals: Squirrels.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name Quercus probably stems from the name of the Lithuanian god of thunder, Perkunas. The word oak is from the Anglo-Saxon ek, in ancient Germanic aik, of uncertain origin and meaning.

Various species of oak are described on several pages on this website, see Plants: Plants in the Himalaya 2, Plants: Plants in Sierra Nevada, and Plants: Ancient and huge trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to legend, a local man, defying the strong waves around the rock, managed to climb it. Here, he met three beautiful young women, who were under a spell, each of them with a guardian: a bull, an old man, and a dog. The man agreed to return to rescue them, but they made him promise not to tell others about their misfortune. However, the local inhabitants managed to get the story out of him, which meant that the spell could not be broken. Nobody ever saw the young women again, and, as the story goes, when the sea becomes rough, the bellowing of the enraged bull can be heard within the rock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This species is described in depth on the pages Nature: Invasive species, and Plants: Urban plant life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting the wood pigeon, are shown on the page Animals: Urban animal life.

 

 

 

 

 

The cooing of this bird is a rather monotonous, continuously repeated “cuh-coooor-cuh”, which can at times be rather annoying. When I was young and prepared for high school examinations, it was quite hot, so I had to leave a window open. A favourite cooing place of a collared dove was our neighbour’s flag pole, situated about 15 m from my window. Its cooing got so annoying that I had to go out and chase it away, but five minutes later it was back on the pole. Well, I did pass my exams anyway.

Other pictures, depicting this species, are shown on the page Animals: Urban animal life.

 

 

 

 

 

The female resembles a small collared dove, whereas the male is quite distinct, having grey head, black collar on the hind neck, red wings, and reddish breast, which has given rise to the popular name of the species.

The specific name means ‘from Tranquebar’, a former Danish colony on the east coast of present-day Tamil Nadu, South India. Presumably, the type specimen of this species was collected here. – Tranquebar is described on the page Culture: Entrances.

A number of pictures, depicting the red turtledove, are shown on the pages Animals: Urban animal life, and Animals – Birds: Birds in Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Formerly, it was included in the genus Streptopelia, but studies on vocalization, together with DNA analyses, led to the conclusion, that this species and its near relative, the laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis), differed sufficiently from the other Streptopelia species to form a separate genus.

This bird is widely distributed in Asia, from the Indian Subcontinent eastwards to China and Taiwan, thence south through the Philippines and Southeast Asia to Indonesia. The nominate race chinensis is very common in Taiwan, also in cities. The pictures below are all from Taiwan, and other pictures are shown on the pages Animals: Urban animal life, and Animals – Birds: Birds in Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In his book Flora Danica, from 1648, Danish physician and herbalist Simon Paulli (1603-1680) gives this fascinating account of old-man’s-beard lichen: ”But above all other kinds of moss [lichens], which grow in the forests on trees, rocks and other places, the most famous one is Usnea, sev Muscus cranii humani, meaning: ’That moss which grows on human skulls’, which, although rarely, is sometimes found on the skulls of miscreants, who have been beheaded, or otherwise done away with, and whose heads have been placed on a stake.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several pictures, depicting leaf mustard, are shown on the page In praise of the colour yellow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The male is usually a little larger than the female, with black wings and back, often with a greenish sheen, whereas back and wings of the female are dark slate-coloured. Head and neck can be pure white, but have more or less extended parts of dark on many birds. Immature birds, up to one year old, have more greyish legs, but are difficult to distinguish from adults.

Pictures, depicting the black-winged stilt are shown on the pages Animals – Birds: Birds in the Indian Subcontinent, Birds in Taiwan, and Birds in the Himalaya.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poplars are deciduous, and several species display brilliant yellow foliage in the autumn, examples of which may be seen on the page In praise of the colour yellow. Autumn foliage of a European species, the common aspen (Populus tremula), is shown on the page Nature Reserve Vorsø: Death in beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common names of this species include dead-rat tree (from the sausage-like fruit, hanging in a long stalk – the rat’s tail), monkey-bread tree (the fruit is edible), and upside-down tree (the sparse branches resemble roots). The name baobab is derived from the Arabic būħibāb, meaning ‘the father of many seeds’. The generic name refers to French botanist and explorer Michel Adanson (1727-1806), who was the first European to observe the species during an expedition to Senegal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On several occasions, at various places around the world, I have photographed cormorants as silhouettes. These birds often occupy exposed roosting sites on rocks or in trees, thus being very photogenic against the light. Below, a number of pictures show various cormorant species. Others may be seen on the pages Fishing, and Animals – Birds: Birds in the United States and Canada, Birds in Africa, and Birds in the Indian Subcontinent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This railroad is described on the page Culture: Railways.

 

 

 

 

 

A number of pictures, depicting tree sparrows, are shown on the pages Animals: Urban animal life, and Animals – Birds: Birds in Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

My adventures among this people are related on the page Travel episodes – Philippines 1984: Shamanism among Ifugao tribals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A number of drongo species are described on the pages Animals – Birds: Birds in Taiwan, and Birds in Africa.

 

The black drongo lives in open areas, where it catches flying insects from a prominent perch, e.g. an electric wire or a bare branch. As its name implies, the plumage of this species is jet-black, with very little sheen. Previously, it was regarded as con-specific with the African fork-tailed drongo, which is today treated as a separate species, named D. adsimilis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In his book Jungle Lore (1953), British hunter, writer, and conservationist Jim Corbett (1875-1955) relates a remarkable example of the abilities of this bird:

“(…) the racket-tailed drongo is a never-ending source of pleasure and interest for, in addition to being the most courageous bird in our jungles, he can imitate to perfection the calls of most birds and of one animal, the cheetal [spotted deer, Axis axis], and he has a great sense of humour. Attaching himself to a flock of ground-feeding birds – junglefowl, babblers, or thrushes – he takes up a commanding position on a dead branch and, while regaling the jungle with his own songs and the songs of other birds, keeps a sharp look-out for enemies in the way of hawks, cats, snakes, and small boys armed with catapults, [the author’s reference to himself] and his warning of the approach of danger is never disregarded. His services are not disinterested, for in return for protection, he expects the flock he is guarding to provide him with food. His sharp eyes miss nothing, and the moment he sees that one of the birds industriously scratching up or turning over the dead leaves below him has unearthed a fat centipede or a juicy scorpion he darts at it screaming like a hawk, or screaming as a bird of the species he is trying to dispossess does when caught by a hawk. Nine times out of ten he succeeds in wresting the prize from the finder, and returning to his perch kills and eats the titbit at his leisure, and having done so continues his interrupted song.”

 

 

 

 

 

The tower was named for French engineer Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923), who was the leading designer and builder of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The nominate subspecies contorta is coastal, found on the Pacific Coast from southern Alaska southwards to north-western California.

Another coastal subspecies is bolanderi, which is endemic to Mendocino County, north-western California. It is threatened by urban development.

Subspecies murrayana, variously named tamarack pine or Sierra lodgepole pine, is widely distributed in mountains, from Washington southwards to northern Baja California, and thence eastwards to southern Nevada.

Finally, subspecies latifolia is found in the Rocky Mountains, from Yukon and Saskatchewan southwards to Colorado.

The specific name is derived from the Latin con (‘with’) and torqueo (‘twisted’), referring to the low, twisted trees, commonly found along the Pacific Coast. This is also reflected in one of the common names of this species, twisted pine.

Other pictures, depicting this species, may be seen on the page Plants: Plants of Sierra Nevada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elsewhere, however, this tree has been planted extensively, especially in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Kenya, South Africa, and the island of Tristan da Cunha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The medicinal usage of this plant is described on the page Plants: Plants in folklore and poetry.

 

 

 

 

 

The popular name arose, when this tree was first identified near the Mission of San Luis Obispo, California.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another legend has it that the chapel is dedicated to a Celtic female saint, Brigida.

 

 

 

 

 

This species is common in much of eastern and southern Africa. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate, which is distributed from southern Uganda and central Kenya southwards to eastern South Africa and the major part of Namibia, and subspecies petersi, known as black-faced impala, which is restricted to north-western Namibia and south-western Angola. This subspecies can be identified by the black markings on its face.

The generic name is from the Greek aipus (‘high’ or ‘steep’) and keras (‘horn’), referring to the long horns of the male, whereas the specific name is from the Greek melas (‘black’) and pous (‘foot’), alluding to the black spots on its hind feet. The name impala is a corruption of the Tswana word phala, which means ‘red antelope’.

 

 

 

 

 

In Yushan National Park, central Taiwan, two large red cypresses were killed by a forest fire in 1963. The hardened trunks of these great trees, popularly known as the Fuci Trees, were standing for many years, until one toppled in 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

Pohutukawa is described on the page Plants: Ancient and huge trees.

 

 

 

 

 

Six subspecies are distributed across the major part of the Northern Hemisphere, from the British Isles eastwards to Japan, and from northern Norway, central Siberia, and Kamchatka southwards to North Africa, Egypt, southern Iran, and southern China, and in most of North America, from northern Canada southwards to southern Mexico.

Four of the subspecies are migratory, spending the winter as far south as South Africa, northern Australia, and Argentina. The birds may be seen year-round in southern Mexico, southern Iberian Peninsula, Egypt, the Himalaya, southern China, and Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting Gol Gumbaz, are shown on the page Religion: Islam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dhows and many other boat types are described on the page Culture: Boats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The nest of this species is built near the seashore, lined with down, which the female plucks from her own breast. This soft down has been harvested by people for hundreds of years, used as filling in pillows, quilts, and jackets. This harvesting was done with no harm to the birds, as it took place when the ducklings had left the nest.

The scientific name is derived from the Greek soma (‘body’) and erion (‘wool’), and the Latin mollissimus (‘very soft indeed’), all referring to the soft down feathers. The name eider is a corruption of the Icelandic name of the bird, æðarfugl, which is derived from the Old Norse æthr.

In Northumberland, southern Scotland, the eider duck is known as the cuddy duck, named after Saint Cuthbert (c. 634-687), a monk, bishop, and hermit of the early Northumbrian Celtic Church. While on the Farne Islands, he instigated special laws to protect the ducks and other seabirds, nesting on these islands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subspecies archibaldi from Turkey and the Caucasus was described scientifically as late as 2008. Formerly, eastern Asian populations were considered a separate subspecies, lilfordi, but today most authorities regard these birds as belonging to the nominate race.

With a total population of nearly 700,000, the Eurasian crane is one of the most numerous crane species, only surpassed by the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis). In western Europe, breeding numbers have increased dramatically in several countries, including Sweden with 15,000 to 20,000 pairs, Germany with about 8,000 pairs, and Denmark with about 500 pairs. In 1998, the total number in Europe was estimated at 45,000 pairs, but this number has since increased significantly.

Pictures, depicting several crane species may be seen in the gallery at Animals: Cranes, and the sandhill crane is described on the page Animals – Birds: Sandhill cranes are a threat to breeding birds.

 

 

 

 

 

The demoiselle crane is still common, counting between 230,000 and 260,000, and this number is fairly stable. This species is distributed from Ukraine across Kazakhstan to Mongolia and north-eastern China. A tiny breeding population is also found in eastern Turkey. This was also previously the case in Morocco, where the demoiselle crane is today extinct. Formerly, it was also breeding in Romania.

In Europe, this species was first brought to France, where Queen Marie Antoinette (1755-93) found it so graceful that she dubbed it grue demoiselle (‘damsel crane’). This name was later adopted by the British.

Traditionally, in the village of Kichan, Rajasthan, north-western India, wintering demoiselle cranes of this area, altogether 5,000-6,000, are fed every morning. At dawn, the cranes arrive at a particular yard in the village, where huge amounts of wheat and other cereals are strewn. This food is donated by rich businessmen, belonging to the Jain religion, which is described in detail on the page Religion: Jainism.

 

 

 

 

 

At dawn, the fishermen push their boats through the surf, placing a huge fishing net from the shore, so that it forms an inverted ‘U’. Now follows several hours of hard work, when the fishermen, often assisted by their wives, haul the net ashore. Usually, their catch is rather small, and in later years it has been further diminished due to overfishing by trawlers from Kolkata (Calcutta). The catch is placed in baskets or in carapaces of sea turtles, which the women place on their head, carrying it to their home just above the beach.

Other pictures from Puri are shown on the page Fishing.

 

 

 

 

 

The drake is a gorgeous bird in breeding plumage, with grey sides, purple breast, and glossy-green head, with a blue shine from certain angles. The female is a uniform speckled brown.

Pictures, depicting male and female, may be seen on the page Animals: Urban animal life.

 

 

 

 

 

This species and many other cacti are described on the page Plants: Cacti.

 

 

 

 

 

The popular name refers to the stems, which resemble pipes of a church organ. In Spanish, fruits of this species are known as pitaya dulce (‘sweet pitaya’), the word pitaya referring to edible fruits of Mexican cacti in general.

 

 

 

 

 

This plant is distributed from extreme southern Nevada southwards through eastern California and western Arizona to Baja California, Sonora, and Sinaloa in Mexico. It is one among many plant species named in honour of surgeon and botanist John Milton Bigelow (1804-1878), who collected many new species on expeditions to south-western U.S. and northern Mexico.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragons, and other aspects of Daoism, are presented on the page Religion: Daoism in Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The common name commemorates Prussian naturalist, ethnographer, and explorer Peter Simon Pallas (1741-1811), who, in 1767, was invited by Catherine II of Russia to become a professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Between 1768 and 1774, he led an expedition to the Caspian Sea, the Ural and Altai Mountains, Lake Baikal, and the upper Amur River. His work from this expedition was published in 3 volumes 1771-1776, titled Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs (‘Journey through various provinces of the Russian Empire’).

In 1793 and 1794, Pallas led a second expedition to southern Russia, visiting the Crimea, the Black and Caspian Seas, and the Caucasus Mountains. His account of this expedition was published 1799-1801, titled Bemerkungen auf einer Reise in die Südlichen Statthalterschaften des Russischen Reichs (‘Notes from a trip to the southern lieutenancies of the Russian Empire’).

 

 

 

 

 

In its widest sense, including the two splits, this bird is found from Afghanistan and the entire Indian Subcontinent eastwards to south-eastern Siberia (Ussuriland) and Japan, and thence southwards through Southeast Asia and the Philippines to Indonesia. It lives in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, rocky areas, cultivated land, and along rivers. In the Himalaya, it is found up to an elevation of at least 3,000 m.

The specific name is derived from Ancient Greek makros (‘long’ or ‘large’) and rhynkhos (‘bill’).

Other pictures, depicting this species, are shown on the page Animals – Birds: Corvids.

 

 

 

 

 

In most areas, this bird is rather shy, but in Taiwan it has become accustomed to people, showing no fear at all. All the pictures below are from the city of Taichung.

Other pictures, depicting the grey treepie, are shown on the pages Animals – Birds: Birds in Taiwan, and Animals – Birds: Corvids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Vietnam, a type of coracle, called thung chai, evolved during the French colonial era. It seems that when the French had colonized Vietnam, they began levying heavy taxes left and right, including a tax on the ownership of boats.

Most Vietnamese fishermen, who depended on boats for their livelihood, could not afford to pay the taxes, so they invented a new type of circular boat, the thung chai, arguing that they were not boats at all, but baskets, and therefore shouldn’t be taxed. It seems that they succeded in their endeavour, and ever since then these vessels have been a common sight in central Vietnam.

 

 

 

 

 

This species is distributed from Europe and Turkey eastwards across Siberia to north-eastern China. It has also been introduced elsewhere, including Canada, where it has been declared an invasive weed.

The specific name means ‘found in woodland’, from the Latin silva (‘forest’). However, forests and woodland are not its primary habitats, as it prefers rather open areas, including marshes, fens, and edges of fields.

A close relative, the garden angelica (A. archangelica), is presented on the page Plants: Plants in folklore and poetry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting this species, are shown on the pages Animals – Mammals: Mammals in the Indian Subcontinent, and Quotes on nature.

 

 

 

 

 

Bark and leaves are utilized medicinally for headache, influenza, bronchitis, and pneumonia, and the wood is used for making coffins.

Other pictures, depicting this species, are shown on the page Plants: Ancient and huge trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A number of deer species are described on the page Animals – Mammals: Deer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting this species, are shown on the pages Plants: Ancient and huge trees, and Nature: Nature’s patterns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The blackbird and many other thrushes are described on the page Animals – Birds: Thrushes.

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name is the Latin generic name of firs. It was given in allusion to the fact that the Norway spruce, at some distance, often resembles the common fir (Abies alba).

Other pictures, depicting this species, are shown on the page Plants: Ancient and huge trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is from the Greek, semnos (‘sacred’) and pithekos (‘monkey’), alluding to the fact that monkeys are sacred to Hindus.

Langurs and many other monkeys are presented in depth on the page Animals – Mammals: Monkeys and apes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some authorities believe that the black-footed langur is a natural hybrid between the northern plains langur and the Nilgiri langur (S. johnii), others regard it as a subspecies of the former.

 

 

 

 

 

Formerly, this monkey was placed in the genus Trachypithecus, but, according to most authorities, this genus is now restricted to the easternmost parts of the Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting this bird, are shown on the page Animals – Birds: Birds in the Indian Subcontinent.

 

 

 

 

 

The name commemorates Bey el-Arnaut Abdim (1780–1827), Turkish governor of Wadi Halfa, Sudan.

Other pictures, depicting this small stork, are shown on the page Animals – Birds: Birds in Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures, depicting leaves of the coconut palm, are shown on the page Nature: Nature’s patterns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting this species, are found on the page Animals – Birds: Birds of Costa Rica and Guatemala.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting this bird, are shown on the page Animals – Birds: Birds in the Indian Subcontinent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A number of pictures, depicting these formations, as well as other geological phenomena on the Colorado Plateau, may be seen on the page Nature: Nature’s art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting this bridge, and many other bridges, are found on the page Culture: Bridges.

 

 

 

 

 

The regime of Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (1979-2003) put an end to their way of life by draining the marshes, as a retaliation for the Madan siding with the Americans during the First Gulf War (1990-1991).

My visit to this interesting wetland is related on the pages Travel episodes – Iraq 1973: The hospitable mudir, and Iraq 1973: Dust storm and sheep’s head.

 

 

 

 

 

This bird has a huge distribution, covering most of sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the south-western tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Traditionally, it is protected in many places, making it rather confident – a fact shown on the page Culture: Boats. Other pictures, depicting this bird, are shown on the page Animals – Birds: Birds in Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Hindu festivals are described on the pages Religion: Hinduism, and Travel episodes – India 1991: Attending Hindu festivals in Rajasthan.

 

 

 

 

 

Numerous pictures, depicting various types of mills, are shown on the page Culture: Mills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting these formations, are presented on the page Nature: Nature’s art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The common nuthatch (Sitta europaea), comprising 21 subspecies, is distributed in an enormous area, found in the major part of Europe, in Turkey and the Caucasus, in the entire Siberian taiga, and in most of East Asia, including Japan and Taiwan.