NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS Three years ago, whilst hand weeding the rockery, I discovered a, to me, unknown plant which after Consulting Collins I hoped was a Small Alison, Alyssum alyssoides. ALYSSUM ALYSSOIDES IN NEEDHAM MARKET.
However, this plant is stated to be found only in a few sandy fields in the Breckland so I was rather mystified. The flowers are yellow and very minute and sensitive to sun so it was difficult to get an identification then. After two more summers the plants are now well established as they seed very readily on my sandy soil near Needham Chalks. It is now definitely identified as Alyssum alyssoides formerly calycinum by Mr. Martin and Mr. Simpson. MRS. M. KERSHAW, Needham Market.
SOLANUM ROSTRATUM. In late September a plant about 18 inches high, as prickly as a gooseberry bush—even the leaves were covered in spines—and having a crop of burrs, was found growing on land which was probably ploughed the previous autumn for the first time ever.
The plant was identified by Mr. Simpson as Solanum rostratum\ a native of Mexico. There was one previous recording in 1940, the plant being found in Bramford. The flowering head is typical of the Solanaceae family; there is a good illustration in the Orbis Books "Herbs and other Medicinal Plants". J. VANE, Tarston Farm, Darmsden.
MAMMALS IN SUFFOLK. I have seen, or had reliable reports of, the following occurrences during 1972.
Fox (Vulpes vulpes). Earths at Darmsden, Chelmondiston, and Leiston, and footprints on the mud at Stutton Ness in December. Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). Red deer (Cervus elaphus).
Washbrook, Ipswich.
Rushbrook.
Fallow deer (Dama dama). Bentley, Holbrook, slots on the mud at Stutton, and reports of deer seen swimming the Stour. Muntjac (Muntiacus sp.). Tunnels under bracken, Long Cover, Shrubland, could be those of muntjac. Also unconfirmed reports of the species at Levington. A. E. VINE, King's Lynn.
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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 16, Part 3
C a r p (Cyprimus carpio). There are some carp of about 6 lbs. in a farm pond here which have been unusually active during March, 1973. Carp hibernate during the winter and do not usually appear in the spring until the water has warmed up considerably. They feed very little, if at all, if the water temperature is below 45°F. and carp fishermen do not expect much sport until it reaches 60°F. A pair of mallard came to nest on the above-mentioned pond in March, 1972, following a very open winter when it had only been covered with ice on four or five days. The duck soon started to take bread which attracted rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and, surprisingly, the carp as well. T h e carp were taking bread actively by April, in a water temperature of 47°F. It is possible that the carp remained active throughout most of the mild winter of 1972/73 and had therefore to Start feeding earlier than is usual having used up more of their reserves than they would have done in hibernation. C r a n b r o o k , Gt. Glemham.