Observations on nature
While snorkelling off Glasilaun beach near Tully Cross, Connemara, I was stunned to see a small seahorse. Are they common in Irish waters?
Gavin Watchorn, Shankill, Co Dublin
Two seahorses are found around the Irish coast, Hippocampus guttulatus and H. hippocampus; the former more usual.
We have a swallow's nest on one side of our house, in which eggs hatched recently and is now empty. But we have been repeatedly buzzed by swallows on the other side of the house where there is no nest.
Michael Good, Caherdaniel, Co Kerry
The fledglings were somewhere close by, being fed by the parents.
A foxglove growing in my garden has produced a flower about 50mm across and 25mm from the top of the stem. The tip is now the centre of the flower with a stamen growing at the base.
Fred Fitzsimons, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan
This condition is called peloria. Yours is a classic example, where upper flowers are replaced by one huge, bell-shaped bloom.