Cryptic Stuff

[not_for_sale2025]

While it was done some years ago I see, I thought I would try a cryptic crossword-like thread for fun and to try and boost a little more interest here. I made up the below question for anyone interested in such a challenge. I thought the first person to get it correct might come up with the next question. A clue though - if you copy one from a newspaper or magazine etc., the answer can often be found on the internet. I can explain the answer for anyone who asks. 🙂

The prisoner at the cave would not stand for the electrically charged droplets of water.

(12 letters)

[twyngwyn]

no

bird or deer or insect? (1 word, 4 letters)   

_r__

[not_for_sale2025]

What is a stag bird?

The peryton is said to have the head, neck, forelegs and antlers of a stag, combined with the plumage, wings and hindquarters of a large bird, although some interpretations portray the peryton as a deer in all but coloration and bird's wings. ... A sibyl once prophesied that the perytons would lead to the downfall of Rome.

I thought this might have been one of your tricky clues!

[not_for_sale2025]

Gray?

[not_for_sale2025]

Frog?

[twyngwyn]

no, to both, sorry

[twyngwyn]

bird or deer or insect? (1 word, 4 letters)  

_ry_

[countessalmirena]

Well... there's the oryx...

Aha! Sneaky, very sneaky. I had to dig a little to find the bird. So... oryx generally refers to a type of antelope, and of course antelopes are very similar to deer. Deer, got it.

Then of course there's the Namibiocesa oryx (fruit fly), part of the Tephritidae family. Insect, check.

And finally, the one that stumped me for a while, there's the Ploceus oryx (also known as Pyromelana oryx, which seems to be the same bird as Euplectes orix, aka which is a South African weaver-bird with the male sporting vivid red and black plumage. Also known as grenadier grosbeak, grenadier waxbill, southern red bishop, and loxia orix, which completely confuses anyone wanting to know what's what with weaver birds.

THERE! I worked for that clue.

[twyngwyn]

over to you, countess

[countessalmirena]

It's been announced: insert into rectum, shocked expression! Is that an underlying bit of naughtiness, or are you pleased to see me? (8)

[not_for_sale2025]

Farcical? LOL