214 
ANIMAL CURIOSITIES 
the daytime it hides in holes that it excavates 
in the ground, the subterranean domain fre¬ 
quently being shared by one or more petrels. 
Mr. E. G. Boulenger tells us that “ the 
chambers measure about two feet in length, 
one foot in width, and six inches in depth, the 
entrance being only four inches in diameter. 
The creature always lies in such a position that 
its head faces the entrance to the chamber, 
ready to defend its home from intruders, biting 
and making use of its claws for that purpose.” 
Although at one time quite plentiful, the 
tuatera is now getting rare, its distribution 
being confined to the smaller islands of the 
Bay of Plenty. Its extermination in many 
of its former haunts was largely due to the 
onslaught of pigs and rats, while the greed of 
collectors and zoological dealers was another 
factor responsible for the reduction in its 
numbers. 
The previously quoted authority records the 
interesting fact that “ whereas twenty-five years 
ago a living specimen could be purchased . . . 
for twenty to thirty shillings, at the present 
time about fifteen pounds represents its market 
value.” 
The lizard thrives well in captivity, the 
solitary individual at the London Zoological 
Gardens at the time of writing having been 
