J. C. Kershaw

“ Hongkong, as a focus for a continuous stream of traffic from near and distant countries, and, possessing a sub-tropical climate to which many animals and plants can adapt themselves, seems exceptionally well situated for observation of some of these phenomena, for exotic insects may be expected to occur frequently, and some of them to find a suitable habitat in the island. ”

“ The geographical distribution of animals changes slowly in the natural course of things, but modern civilisation and constant and rapid communication with all parts of the world tends to effect some of these changes more rapidly, and, we may expect, will eventually cause many more species to become extinct and some almost cosmopolitan. ”

“ Termites, or White Ants, are only too well-known in Hongkong, where they do an immense amount of damage every year. Dragonflies are numerous in species and many of them are handsome insects. There are hosts of Sawflies and Parasitic Hymenoptera, and the Bees and Wasps are very numerous, especially the Solitary Wasps. The Ants are everywhere, and some species are a great nuisance at times. The Beetle fauna is rather poor on the whole, though there are many Phytophagous kinds, a few fine Longicorns and Lamellicorns and many species of Carabidæ. ”

“ Of Rats and Mice there are several species, the common rat being a serious nuisance. One of the Scaly Ant-eaters, genus Pangolin, occurs in Kwangtung, and very possibly on the island, and may occasionally be seen alive in the markets of Hongkong and Macao. The majority of these mammals are strictly nocturnal, and, in consequence, the Hongkong mammalia, few in species, are also the least conspicuous portion of the fauna of the island. ”

“ For many new plants have certainly been introduced or found their way lo Hongkong within the last fifty years, and some of them now flourish here; and butterflies, like man and most terrestrial animals are, directly or indirectly, dependent for existence on the vegetable kingdom. The small area of the island lends itself specially to the observation of the increase and decrease of native species, and the arrival of immigrants. ”

“ The Hemiptera are much in evidence, some large and handsome species occurring; a few kinds are in such abundance as seriously to damage certain trees. The great Water-bug, a species of Belostoma, is very common in stagnant water, but is seldom seen. Sometimes, however, it flies during the night into lighted houses, and always attracts attention by its great size. The Cicadidæ during the wet season force themselves on one's attention, being found even in trees in the city. Of the Candle-flies, or Fulgoridæ, there are two large and handsomely-coloured species, one being very common. ”

“ There is also a rather large species of Wild Cat, but it is not common, and is likely to be soon exterminated, though it is fairly numerous on the mainland. A Fox, very similar to the British animal, but rather larger and lighter in colour, is common on the mainland, and occurs on the island. An Otter and a Badger, very like their respective British prototypes, occur on the island and are common on the mainland. ”

“ In the case of a moth, Metanestria punctata, whose larva feeds on fir-trees, and in certain years often defoliates large areas in China, examination of a great number of pupæ showed that fully 75 per cent. had been destroyed, chiefly by Dipterous and Hymenopterous parasites, whilst the eggs of the moth were heavily parasitised by Hymenoptera. No doubt these parasites always appear whenever the moth becomes very abundant. The insectivorous birds here destroy few mature butterflies, though they account for numbers of eggs, larvæ, and pupæ. ”

“ One of the burrowing snakes (Typhlina) , nearly black and not so big as an ordinary earth-worm and with exceedingly minute eyes, is very common under large stones, beneath which it burrows in the soil. ”

“ HE most striking portions of the Hongkong fauna to a general observer are the insects, the birds, and the reptiles. The mammals have to be carefully sought for and, consequently, are rarely seen by the majority of people. ”

“ In spite of its small size—about 1⁄4-inch in diameter—it not only seizes, but sometimes manages to hold and kill, a large Papilio. This spider is almost indistinguishable amongst white or yellow blossoms. ”