While walking the dogs on a sheltered boreen, I noticed what appeared to be about half a cupful of transparent slime smeared in a couple of places on the grass. Next day, there were two or three more patches, and the older ones had expanded into lumps of a creamy, coral, buttery consistency. Two days later, these had turned opaque and contained thousands of little black dots.
Alan Cowie, Blessington, Co Wicklow
This was a slime mould (myxomycetes), which is neither animal nor vegetable but has characteristics of both, as it is able to move in search of food by means of contractions. It lives on bacteria and fungi, and has an early runny stage which later develops into a spore-containing fruit body. Normally it is hidden in leaf mould or decaying matter, but warm, humid weather can bring it out into the open.
Eye on Nature is edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. Observations sent by e-mail should be accompanied by postal address. E-mail: viney@anu.ie