H.—33

23

Writer and Date. Remarks. Numbers, Increase or Decrease, and Enemies — continued. Stephen Island —continued. P. K. W. Willers ; 12th " I have noticed the kingfisher devouring the very small tuatara lizards, October, 1914 and have therefore destroyed several kingfishers and also their eggs. . . . I have also trapped a number ol hawks and a few cats, there being but few on the island now. The very large seagulls . which frequent the summit of the island at certain times of the year also devour the tuatara." li. S. Wilson ; 31st October, "By the destruction of the hawk and other natural enemies the tuatara 1914 are on the increase, but they are not plentiful/ T. B. Smith ; 25th May, " During the six months 1 have been here 1 have been frequently over the 1915 whole of the island, and the tuataras are to be seen more or less in every locality, but more especially in the bush and in the vicinity of the dwellings. Since being on the island 1 have trapped only five cats, and three of these wore kittens, so although there must be a few left, Jdo not think there are many. On two occasions 1 have seen hawks flying with a lizard hanging from their claws. In March and April, when the hawks were here by the hundreds, I managed to trap a large number, and by secreting myself in the bush at dusk I have shot as many as sixteen in a short time. When all the bush has disappeared off the island, as it is doing, the tuataras will have no bush security." E. R, Wilson ; 20th May, " During the past summer the hawks have been very numerous ; there 1915 have been 355 destroyed with guns and traps. Also there were five cats destroyed. Ido not think there are any more on the island, as I have not seen any lately. There are a great many tuataras in the bush, but not out in the open. They seem to have deserted the open places in the island and taken to the bush." The Brothers. L. Thomson ; 22nd April, " There are very few tuataras on The Brothers, and they are no doubt 1913 decreasing. When I was first stationed there sixteen or eighteen years ago there were a fair number, but when I returned five or six years ago the numbers had decreased considerably." E. H. Tutt; 12th March, "There are only a few on The Brothers, the food being scarce. 1 fear 1913 . the hawks get a few, as there are quite a number about sometimes." J. McGarvie ; 19th March, " I fancy their number is much about the same as when I came (two 1913 years ago), but as this island is very rough and steep I expect there are a large number that 1 never see at all." W. W. McLeish ; 29th ()c- " I have seen a few about the lighthouse and dwelling, and indications of tober, 1913 them on other parts of the island, but cannot say if they are on the increase or not." C. Davis; 13th January, " 1 have seen a few young tuataras lately. These have been hatched this 1915 season, by their size, and they are lively and keep close to the mouths of their holes. As Hies and beetles and other insects flourish on the island there is always abundance of feed to be had, so that with protection from cats and other enemies 1 think the tuatara should thrive and increase in numbers here." (Juvier Island. li. Leighton ; 24th March, "I do not think the lizards are very plentiful on Cuvier Island, and 1913 should say they have decreased in numbers. The principal reason for this is, in my opinion, the advent of the men employed during the building of the stations, the workmen usually taking cats and dogs with them-. I know from experience that both will destroy lizards." A. Duncan ; 30th April, "As I have seen them at different parts of the island, it would seem as if 1913 they were fairly plentiful. Cuvier Island must be most suitable for them, as the whole island is covered with dense bush and large boulders, so that in the bush they find plenty of food, and under the boulders they make their nests. 1 have really no means of knowing whether they have decreased in numbers of late years. I have formed the opinion that a fire must have swept the island in years gone by and must have caused the tuatara to decrease, but 1 see no reason why they should not now increase. There are a few owls on the island, and they may eat the young ones at times, but with the cover they have, probably the owls cannot get many. On one occasion I have seen an owl carrying a lizard. During my two years on the island I shot seven wild cats, and all were in very good condition. Oats, as a rule, that eat lizards are very thin."