Readers observations
We have an orange (or rather light terracotta) coloured mouse living in the bank at the back of our house. Is there such a thing in normal mouse society?
John O'Donoghue, Avoca, Co Wicklow.
The field/wood mouse has yellow- brown flanks and is distinguished from the house mouse by larger ears, eyes and hind feet. In Exploring Irish Mammals, it states that many mice in the Dublin area have a buffish coat.
One evening recently a shoal of sprats was circling inside the small Sandycove harbour behind the Forty Foot. They were being preyed upon by sea birds, and mackerel. The water there was only a few inches deep. Could the sea birds and/or the mackerel have driven the sprats into the harbour.
Bob Curran, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Mackerel often drive sprats into the shallows.
The grey squirrel in my garden is not eating the acorns where they fall but after being buried. Is this because the chemistry of germination makes the acorns more palatable?
John Dixon, Killiney, Co Dublin.
When hunger is satisfied, squirrels cache the surplus. They also notch the apex to excise the embryo and prevent germination.
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address.