TUATARA LIZARDS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1931, Page 7

TUATARA LIZARDS

LIFE WITH MUTTON-BIRDS

LOVERS OF PEACE. That very interesting species of th New Zealand lizard family, the Tuatara lias always attracted the keen intercs of students of natural history. It i gleaned from official sources that man; applications from abroad for live spec: mens of the Tuatara have been declined the tear being that the famous lizaiv might become extinct. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon P. A. de la Pemdle, stated on Friday that he had received a very interesting report from Mr H. i§. Wilson, principal keeper of Tim Brothers lighthouse, touching on the habits of the lizard, which had become widely thought of by students. He would quote Mr Wilson’s report for the information of students. “Little can be said about the Tuatara,” says the report, “at this time of the year as the lizards have now taken to their winter quarters and do not reappear until some time in October. It is when -lie dove petrel come to nest, and right through the breeding season of these sea-birds, that the Tuatara lizard is to be seen most prominently. It was during the early part of May I saw the last Tuatara before it took to winter quarters. With the exception of several full-size lizards, the others were chiefly young, which indicates they are breeding. They are not what I should call plentiful, and great care should be taken to preserve them. Tiieir peace should not be disturbed in any way ; likewise the dove petrej ami the mutton birds, or similar birds, that make their nests in the grqiind. These sea-birds and the Ttmtara ]iye together, fl cannot say the Tuatara jives upon the eggs of these birds or their young. All I know that where these birds nest you will generally find the Tuatara.” “Even on what would appear to be a barren rock,” the report continues, “i

have found the Tuatara. In 1915 I visited several small islets in Admiralty Bay, near the French Pass, and found the Tuatara, not plentiful, but they are •there. It is quiie probable they are to be’ found on Fanned Island, near Moko Hinou, Hauraki Gulf. While stationed at Moko Hinou lighthouse, I visited this island, and saw there the wood pigeon and bell-bird, and several species of Shearwater, including the mutton-bird and dove petrel. It is an ideal place for the Tuatara lizard, as the island is so inaccessible to launchmen, fishermen, and others that may fancy to land there. Only at one or two places is it possible to scale the rocks and get on this island. ‘’The- Maoris from -St. Katherine’s Bay, Great Barrier, used to visit this island occasionally for mutton-birds, but this has been stopped since the island was made a bird sanctuary a few years back. I mentioned in my former letter that I found that Tuatara on the Moko Hinou group, but only one or two. At these islands fishermen take shelter and while there set them on fire. I have seen th:s done while stationed at the lighthouse, tut unable to prevent them as it occurred on one of the islands away from the island the lighthouse is on, Well, Fannel Island offers thorn no anchorage, and would make an ideal home for the Tuatara. They could be placed there and come under the natural protection of the island by its towering cliff's which abound on all sides,”