While walking on Curracloe beach in Wexford I came across a large number of mermaids' purses. What animals are these from? – Cora McCormack, Clane, Co Kildare
They are the egg cases of various members of the different rays and skates.
![The rove beetle known as the devil’s coach horse](https://www.irishtimes.com/resizer/v2/PNWUOOEKDWST6XKYPXYIT2OCRQ.jpg?auth=df954f810f4da8bb62b82021da0f5d2122cd069f9806dac0b6c7f693ca98ad92&width=800&height=674)
I came across this insect in a field by the Liffey. It was nearly 2 inches long, and its tail pointed up as though to sting when poked. – Finn O'Dwyer, Strawberry Beds, Dublin 20
It’s a rove beetle called the devil’s coach horse, also known as the dearg a daol.
![The scalloped oak moth varies in colour](https://www.irishtimes.com/resizer/v2/34PPIP2BEVMRBCISSZPORHZLEQ.jpg?auth=a7039f8df2c5cf9f79b37acfc3b4dc3a259ada87f5e063f1d3cefc958976ed83&width=800&height=449)
We found this moth on the window sill; could you identify it for me please? – Isobel Fleming, Crossmaglen, Co Down
The scalloped oak moth varies in colour from cream to brick.
![Beadlet anemone in its strawberry form](https://www.irishtimes.com/resizer/v2/RLJDYZYPIBFNG46YTFOP3QDZ5I.jpg?auth=44d20a3c1842a6dffee25ef5af61ab12bc4973529ee4c8563169e390e0ad6a09&width=800&height=1000)
My son Michael spotted this beautiful creature at Seapoint, and when we looked around we saw loads of them. Is it a beadlet anemone? We saw some above the waterline with their tentacles retracted. – Ian Brunswick, Sandymount, Dublin 4
It is the beadlet anemone in its strawberry form. It can be brown, red, orange or green, and has about 200 retractable tentacles.
![A cormorant drying its wings on the Grand Canal](https://www.irishtimes.com/resizer/v2/LJ3XLYJ73W3JCLU6KXBAWBLZQM.jpg?auth=0d1ed466b62cdc0540aa596414ed1ddbab41d0f658ba189af27dbe4fb5308356&width=800&height=1006)
I saw this cormorant drying its wings on the Grand Canal near Clondalkin. I was delighted to see it so close. – Patricia Clarke, Cherry Orchard, Dublin 10
As I finished a walk on the side of Slievenamon, a red squirrel came bounding through the bracken pursued by a pine marten. The squirrel scrambled up a tree to the smallest limb, the pine marten climbed in the ivy on the tree trunk. A stand-off ensued about 60ft up, the squirrel making a "chut-chut" sound while the pursuer had a deep "murr". – Joe Burke, Fethard, Co Tipperary
The smaller branch would not support the pine marten.
[ viney@anu.ie ]