TUATARA LIZARDS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 130, 25 January 1932, Page 6

TUATARA LIZARDS

NUMBER S ON CUYIER ISLAND REPORTED TO BE INCREASING. It is stated in official reports that the tuatara, an interesting memher of . the New Zealand lizard family, is increasing in number. The Cuvier Island, off the Hauraki Gulf, is a habitat of the tuatara, which enjoys protection by law. The principal keeper of the Cuvier Lightliouse (Mr. F. Young), Writing to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. A. Hamilton) states that the tuatara was to be seen in fair numbers on the island. "We had about the lighthouse," Mr. ifoung says, "ordinary known tuataras' but these' ones are few in comparison with those met with in recent months. The last half-yearly period has been marked by a great amount of unusual activity among the lizards of this island. They have been met with in all sorts of places, and showing a remarltable liveliness in place of the heavy sluggishness which has always oeen associated with them. This activity was first noticed in our gaVdens, where destruction became more the order every day — the lizards congregating to pull down the most extraordinary plants and drag them about. This period happily only lasted about a month, and sun-bathing on the part of the lizards in small parties has now become popular. A breeding season is probably occurring, but nothing definite has been noticed, as the lizards disappear with amazing speed when- aware of observation. No hawks have visited the island for some months, and the only cat known to exist in the vicinity of the lighthouse has so far evaded the gun."