Eye on Nature

While walking across a fallow, wet meadow I spotted what looked like eggs on the grass. I'm sending you a photograph of these white, granular spheres.
Pat Fitzpatrick
Drombanna, Co Limerick

The substance is a slime mould, 'Mucilago crustacea', in one of its stages. Slime moulds are masses of protoplasm that share characteristics of both fungi and animals. They have complex life cycles, changing form at different stages.

On November 25th we arrived home to be greeted by a woodcock scratching the pavement and flitting in and out of hedges.
Bill Roberts
Christchurch Square, Dublin

I have noticed a peacock butterfly in the folds of the sitting-room curtains. When the lamps were lit it was attracted to them.
Paula O'Kelly
Sutton, Dublin

While taking in logs for the fire on December 1st I discovered a peacock butterfly slowly opening and closing its wings.
Mike English
Blackrock, Co Louth

With any luck they will have returned to hibernation.

Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address