922 Transactions.—Zoology. 
In his description of one of these islets, Moutoki, he says ;—‘ It is on a 
cone-like hummock rising from its centre that the Tuatara (Sphenodon punc- 
tatum) is found. The area of this cone is not more than half an acre, and 
yet the Tuatara exists and has existed for ages in this limited preserve. 
Tradition says that they were plentiful on Whale Island, but does not 
account in a satisfactory manner for their extinction. * * In a few 
minutes we caught four Tuataras (the largest of which I forwarded to Mr. 
Kirk, the Curator of the Auckland Museum). They were found basking on 
the rocks and in holes in the loose soil. Whether these holes were the 
burrows of sea-birds or had been scraped by the lizards I could not tell. 
In one instance we found a Tuatara and a young Penguin in the same 
burrow. The Maoris, as a rule, have a perfect horror of lizards, and 
associate them with death or disaster; but a couple of Uriwera lads, who 
formed part of my crew, proved superior to superstitious influences, and 
pulled them out bravely, receiving, however, sundry sharp nips for their 
temerity. Itis believed by some that the Tuatara feeds, for a portion of the 
year at least, on the eggs of sea-birds, but I could never coax one to eat an 
egg. From an examination of their excreta, I am of opinion that their food 
consists of insects, more particularly a shining black beetle about half an 
inch in length, with a longish neck, small head, and fluted elytra. It is 
commonly found under stones and old wood.” 
I think it is pretty evident that the Tuataras excavate their own burrows, 
or at any rate adapt existing cavities to their wants by that means, for I 
have observed that my captives are particularly fond of scraping and 
digging in the earth at the bottom of their cage. 
They are very sluggish in their movements, but may be roused to 
activity by being rubbed or tickled in the ribs, when they wriggle violently, 
and sometimes utter a low rasping note. 
The Tuataras to which the above notes refer have all, as already stated, 
been obtained on the rocky islets in the Bay of Plenty. Within the last 
few months, however, a considerable number of these lizards have been 
obtained on the Brothers Islands in the vicinity of Cook Strait), by the 
expeditions engaged in the erection of the Government lighthouse there. 
Over 20 specimens of all sizes (from the young measuring three inches to 
the full-grown animal measuring twenty-one inches) have bee ived at the 
Colonial Museum, the bulk of them being a donation from Mr. Lewis B. 
Wilson. Another batch obtained by Captain Fairchild of the “ Luna” has 
been forwarded to England by Sir Julius Vogel, and other specimens pre- 
served in eages are scattered among lovers of the curious in this city. 
An examination of a large series of specimens has satisfied me that the 
Tuatara inhabiting the Brothers Islands is very different in appearance from 
