Andrew Vik
Tampa, FL, USA
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Dear Conchlers:

Kay and I just returned late Sunday from our week in Hong Kong.
In the midst of our breakneck schedule of hiking, sightseeing,
shopping and dining, I did manage to locate a few mollusks.
Here is short synopsis of my conchological finds:

TUESDAY:
Took a morning stroll through Kowloon Park.
First sighting of a living mollusk was Achatina fulica,
the Giant African Snail. I guess they are everywhere now.
Did not collect.

Proceeded to bus tour of Hong Kong Island.
During stop at Stanley Market, found live Nerita albicilla
and Monodonta labio under the shore rocks nearby.
Also found a fairly good dead Turbo cornutus.

WEDNESDAY:
Took fairy ride to the former Portuguese colony of Macau.
Observed Cobicula manilensis and Tarebia granifera in the
man made lake at the south end of the city. Did not collect.

At the indoor market off the Rua Do Almirante Sergio,
saw many live mollusks for sale, including Haliotis asinina,
Haliotis ovina, Hemifusus ternatus, Babylonia areolata,
Atrina vexillum, Paphia textilis and Ruditapes philippinarum.
Purchased some of these at other markets later on.

THURSDAY:
Took the early afternoon fairy to Lamma Island.
At Hung Shing Yeh Beach on the west side, found
Cellana sp., Lunella cinerea, Monodonta canalifera,
Trochid sp. A (black, corrugated surface, looks vaguely
like one of the west American Tegulas),  and two polyplacopharans
on the intertidal rocks. Found Donax sp. (4 cm., white with dark
stipple pattern) in beach sand. Observed local women digging
under rocks at south end of beach. They were filling their
buckets with Ruditapes philippinarum. Upon digging for my
own specimens, also found Semele sp.

Hiked to the bay at Sok Kwu Wan on the east side.
Hit the low tide perfectly. Under the sea lettuce covered rocks,
found Cypraea eglantina and C. errones. Also found Scutus
unguis and Trochid species B, C & D.

SATURDAY:
Took the afternoon fairy to Cheung Chau Island.
Went on land snail hunt on the peak near the reservoir
to the north of the village. Found many dead, and no living,
Acatina fulica and Bradybaena similis. Perhaps the result
of a campaign to eradicate these foreign pests?
Found one living species, a medium sized Zonitid
which I will probably never be able to I.D.

We had a great time exploring this fantastic city and its
surroundings. The people are friendly, the food is good,
and there are endless things to see and do other than
just shelling.

Yours, Andrew & Kay