MISSING REPTILES.
TUATARAS DISAPPEAR FROM OPAWA CARDENS. Two tuataras belonging to a collection of these reptiles in Johnston’s Gardens at Opawa. are missing, and Mr C'. H. Morris, proprietor of the garden;*, believes that they have been stolen. One is 254 inches long, probably the largest tuatnra known. The other missing one is particularly interesting, as it was born in the gardens forty-two years ago, when the gardens were conducted by the late Mr .Johnston. As the date of its birth was noted, it afforded a unique opportunity of recording the rate of growth of these reptiles. Tho slowness of the grow th is shown by the fact that this individual during its forty-two years of life has grown only seven inches. Tuataras are found only in New Zealand, and are rare even m this country. They are living representatives of a group of reptiles that became extinct a long time ago- On that account they attract much attention. It is illegal to have them in possession or to take them out of Now Zealand aliye, or as specimens without the consent of the Minister for Internal Affairs.
(The cable news in thiß issue accredited V> ‘•'lb-* Tunes” has appeared in that journal, hot -on.lv whero exprss*l>v stated is such news nn editorial opinion of " The Tunes. ")
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19210613.2.53
Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Issue 16451, 13 June 1921, Page 7
Word Count
217MISSING REPTILES. Star (Christchurch), Issue 16451, 13 June 1921, Page 7
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