Photo One

Dear Readers, well, as I expected, this was complicated! I’ve been through your answers, and the ones that were in my mind when I designed the quiz are in black. The ones in red are ones that you’ve suggested that I’m going to allow as legitimate. Please feel free to argue for any that I’ve disallowed if you think I’m being mean :-). 

The scoring scheme is one mark for getting a correct ‘odd one out’, and a second mark for a good reason. Some of you have suggested multiple reasons, but I’m only giving 2 marks for each answer, so the quiz is out of a total of 20. On that basis, FEARN is the clear winner this week, with 20 out of 20, closely followed by Mike at Alittlebitoutoffocus with 16 out of 20, Fran and Bobby Freelove, Anne and Claire with 14 out of 20 and Brigid with 11 out of 20. Well done to all of you, and thank you for playing! Let’s see what I can dream up for this week.

What is the Odd One Out?

1. Large Emerald, Yellow Underwing, Oak Beauty, Marbled White? The Marbled White is a butterfly, all the rest are moths.
2. Cedar of Lebanon, Swamp Cypress, Juniper, Scots Pine? Only the Swamp Cypress is deciduous, the others keep their leaves through the winter
3. Greater Burdock, Cornflower, Star of Bethlehem, Dandelion? The Star of Bethlehem is not a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) – in fact it’s a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). I’m also going to allow that it’s the only one that grows from a bulb.
4. Willow Warbler, Fieldfare, Waxwing, Brambling? The Willow Warbler is the only spring migrant, all the rest are winter migrants to the UK. Several people mentioned the Waxwing as being the only one that doesn’t migrate long-distance, however one was recently ringed in Aberdeen and found in eastern Siberia, 3714 kms away, so I’m going to disallow it (though feel free to argue)
5. Fly Agaric, Destroying Angel, Panther Cap, Amethyst Deceiver? In spite of its name, the Amethyst Deceiver is edible, while the other three are poisonous.
6. Slow Worm, Grass Snake, Smooth Snake, Adder? The Slow Worm is actually a legless lizard, while the others are reptiles. Also, the adder is the only animal that’s venomous to humans, so I’ve accepted that as well. 
7. Alpine Chough, Raven, Ring Ouzel, Jackdaw? The ring ouzel is a thrush, the others are members of the crow family. 
8. Ivy Bee, Hairy-Footed Flower Bee, Shrill Carder Bee, Tawny Mining Bee? The Shrill Carder bee is a bumblebee, the others are solitary bees. I am also going to allow that the Hairy-Footed Flower Bee is the only one that doesn’t normally nest underground, preferring to nest in walls. 
9. Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone, Winter Aconite, Meadow Buttercup. All of these plants are in the buttercup family (Ranunculaeae) but the Meadow  Buttercup is the only one that is not a spring ephemeral (i.e. it doesn’t pop up when there’s no leaf cover and then disappear). I’ve also allowed that it’s the only one with white flowers. And I think I’m going to allow that the Meadow Buttercup is the only one that doesn’t have a bulb.
10. Chinese Water Deer, Fallow Deer, Roe Deer, Reeve’s Muntjac. The Roe Deer is the only one that’s native, all the others are introductions (the Fallow Deer being brought by the Romans). I’ve also allowed Chinese Water Deer, as the only one that doesn’t shed its antlers (as it doesn’t actually have any).