Eye On Nature

I found some cherry stones hidden in the corner of an outhouse where I store apples over the winter. I also found them outside under planks near a compost heap where I keep seaweed collected locally. I know of no cherry trees locally. Larry Cummins, Sutton, Dublin 13

As there were no gnaw marks on the cherry stones, they might be the store of the field mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, which had already eaten the flesh.

Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. e-mail: viney@anu.ie. Observations sent by e-mail should be accompanied by postal address as location is sometimes important to identification or behaviour.