2 ARTHUR DENDY. 



iiig the parietal eye in some embryo Australian skinks, I 

 was struck with the existence of an optic cup, apparently 

 similar to that of the paired eyes. Tiiis seemed so startling 

 that I resolved to attempt to obtain Tuatara embryos for the 

 purpose primarily of studying the development of the parietal 

 eye. 



Knowing that Stephens Island, in Cook Straits, on 

 the recommendation of the Auslralssian Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, bad been proclaimed a reserve for the 

 Tuatara, it occurred to me by a happy inspiration to address 

 a letter to the lighthouse keeper, then entirely unknown to me 

 even by name, asking his assistance in the matter. I wrote 

 to him first on July 3rd, 1896, and most fortunately T found 

 in Mr. P. Henaghan, the principal keeper on Stephens Island, 

 an ardent enthusiast, who threw himself heart and soul into 

 the work in the interests of science ; and I cannot sufficiently 

 express my gratitude to him for the magnificent supply of 

 material which he obtained for me, and also for the valuable 

 information which he gave me from time to time in his in- 

 teresting letters regarding the habits of the Tuatara. 



Stephens Island being now a reserve, it was of course 

 necessary to obtain permission from the New Zealand Govern- 

 ment to collect, and this, throtigh the kind assistance of Sir 

 James Hector, F.R.S., was successfully accomplished. To the 

 Hon. the Colonial Secretary and to Sir James Hector I also 

 wish to express my gratitude for their courtesy. 



I had proposed visiting Stephens Island myself during the 

 breeding season, which was supposed to begin about January, 

 but pressure of other business made it very difficult for me to 

 do so, and I ultimately resolved to trust entirely to Mr. 

 Henaghan for the supply of eggs. There is regular com- 

 munication between Stephens Island and the mainland only 

 once in six weeks, so that consideiable difficulty and delay 

 were experienced in sending the eggs, in consequence of 

 which a considerable number perished. Several lots of the 

 eggs were sent packed in moss or lichen in tin cans, but 

 they were very liable to go bad in this packing if delayed 



