108 Transactions, — Zoology. 



Art. XX. — Observations on Sphenodon punctatum, Fringe-back 



Lizard [Tuatara). 



By A. Reischek, F.L.S. 



[Read before the Auckland Institute, 21st September, 1885.] 



On this remarkable lizard I have already written and forwarded 

 a paper to Dr. Julius von Haast, F.R.S., etc., which he read 

 before the Philosophical Institute, Christchurch. (See " Trans. 

 N.Z. Inst.," vol. xiv., 1881.) Since then I have had many 

 further opportunities of observing them on various islands off 

 the coast of New Zealand. 



On the Morotiri Islands, I found them common, in burrows 

 by themselves, but oftener with the Procellaridee. On my first 

 visit to Taranga Island, in 1880, I searched the southern and 

 western portions without seeing a single specimen ; and I also 

 searched Hauturu Island in the same year, with a similar 

 result. On my second visit to Taranga Island, when searching 

 the rest of that island, at the north-eastern portion, my dog 

 set at a small burrow, and on examining it, I found a fine 

 specimen of Tuatara. Afterwards, at the same place, I examined 

 a number of burrows, so small that ProceUarida could not enter. 

 Some had a small chamber, others none ; but I never found 

 more that one lizard in each. The entrance measured from 

 3 inches in diameter, the burrow from 2 feet to 4 feet long. The 

 Tuataras must have excavated these burrows, as they were 

 different in form from those in which the birds are found asso- 

 ciated with them. These lizards vary in colour from those on 

 the Morotiri Islands, being a more greenish grey, with light 

 spots, as I have a similar specimen here for examination. I 

 think Dr. W. Buller, F.R.S., described it as Ginteri. I long 

 since maintained that these lizards burrow, when others ex- 

 pressed doubts about it ; but during five years' observation, I 

 found many proofs, which have fully confirmed my first descrip- 

 tion ; even in confinement, in my possession, they burrow ; and 

 Professor Thomas has a number for observation, which burrow 

 even in stiff clay. 



A remarkable fact in connection with these lizards is, that 

 on all the larger islands they live principally on insectivorous 

 food, such as beetles, grubs, wetas, grasshoppers, flies, etc., which 

 I found on dissecting. They are thus very useful in destroying 

 these vermin, and it is a pity that they are extinct on the main- 

 land. A. Grainger, Esq., had a Tuatara nearly a year in his 

 garden, which made her abode under the aviary, coming out at 

 night in search of food. I never found any remains of birds, 

 on dissecting Tuataras on the larger islands, living in the 

 same burrow with ProceUarida and their eggs. I think where 



