To Mr. Nisters and the list;
 
        I will not be specializing in Pectinidae, but it will always be one of
my favorite families- such a rich variety of colors, patterns, shapes
and sculpture is not found in any other taxa!! (Conidae comes close, i
must admit, but most cones lack meaningful sculpture.  This is, however
my second favorite family, because of its amazing variability: between
spp, within most spp, and especially within local populations- which i
love to demonstrate by constructing variation sets or series which
contrast as much as possible: i believe that these have good scientific
value, as well as simply being beautiful!)
 
        Now, i had not heard of the interesting Placopecten population you
speak of, in Italy, of all places!!  If i had heard there were pockets
of Placopecten in Portugal, i would not be perplexed (Ok- i have a
weakness for alliteation- at least it keeps me away from puns!) , since
juvenile Placopecten could easily attach themselves to fishing boats, on
longer stays at a harbour in Newfoundland, but Italy is not known for
its overseas fishing fleet, and few Italian vessels call at ports in
Atlantic Canada.  However, during the period of large-scale Italian
immigration to the North-eastern U.S., many Italian passenger ships tied
up at New England ports, and they could have transported spat back to
Italy.  However, the climate is so different in the Mediterranean, that
i do not see how the species could establish itself there- perhaps a
freak mutation imparting tolerance to warm water is responsible?
Certainly, a genetic examination of this population, if it still exists,
would prove  quite fascinating!!  The question remains- why do so few
spp with attatched juvenile stages establish themselves in Europe, in
general- surely some must survive the trip now and then, and the climate
in the Scandinavian countries is quite similar to Eastern Canada and New
England.  Certainly it occurs locally- for example, an undescribed
species of Cyclocardia which occurs in abundance off Newfoundland, and
north, is also found in a small population in a bay in SW Nova Scotia,
where many fishing vessals used to come from, to fish on the Grand Banks
of Newfoundland.  I would like to know if anyone out there in Conchland
knows of a species of mollusc that has been transplanted from North
America to Europe,  instead of the usual other way around?
(also, i would much appreciate a good photo of the Italian Placopecten,
or perhaps someone else has a specimen to lend or trade?? I would not
wish to risk your lone example during two mail trips!)
                                                                                        -Sincerely,
                                                                                        Ross.