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Art. XX.—Notes on the Occurrence of certain Marine Reptilia in New Zealand Waters.
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 12th December, 1907.]
In studying the fauna of any country considerable interest always attaches to those species which, though not regular inhabitants, occasionally visit it, frequently straying far from their proper homes. In the case of the birds of New Zealand, there is quite a long list of species which have been recorded as stragglers or wanderers, such as the Australian shrike (Graucalus melanops), the wattled honey - eater (Acanthochœra carunculata), the Australian swallow (Petrochelidon nigricans), the Australian roller (Eurystomus australis), and many others. Full particulars respecting the occurrence of these species will be found in Sir W. L. Buller's classic volumes on the “Birds of New Zealand”; and, in addition, a considerable number of short papers relating to the subject are contained in the volumes of the “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute.”
It is not so well known, however, that certain marine Reptilia visit the coasts of the northern portion of New Zealand, the species being two turtles or Chelonians, and two water-snakes of the family Hydrophinœ. One of the latter occurs so frequently as almost to justify its inclusion as a regular member of the fauna.
As hardly anything has been definitely put on record respecting the occurrence of these species, it appears to me that it is desirable to mention the instances that have come under my own notice. If other observers will do the same we may arrive at more certain conclusions respecting the frequency of the visits of the specie, and the circumstances attending them.
I. Leathery Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).
1. In vol. xxv of the “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,” p. 108, I have recorded the first instance of the capture of this species (in 1892) in New Zealand waters. I need not repeat the particulars here, beyond saying that the specimen was obtained in the vicinity of Cape Brett by Captain Subritzky, of the schooner “Medora,” and was brought up to Auckland for exhibition. Its total length was a little over 6 ft.
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2. Two years later (1894) Captain Subritzky obtained a second specimen, this time between the Bay of Islands and Mongonui, and also brought it to Auckland, where I had an opportunity of examining it in the flesh. It was considerably larger than the first, the total length being over 7 ft.
II. Green Turtle (Chelone mydas).
1. Although I have been assured that the well-known green turtle is not infrequently seen off the coast of the North Auckland peninsula, I am only acquainted with two undoubted instances of its capture. In the summer of 1885 some Maoris were fishing a little distance inside the entrance to the Manukau Harbour, and, noticing an object floating on the water, pulled up to ascertain what it was. It proved to be a young turtle basking in the sun, fast asleep. Stealthily approaching it, one of them succeeded in harpooning it, when it was easily secured. They brought their prize to Auckland, when I succeeded in purchasing it from them for a few shillings, and the specimen is now in the Museum. As already stated, it is a young individual, its total length being 2 ft. 9 in.
2. When travelling round the North Cape peninsula in January, 1896, I was shown the carapace of a green turtle which had come ashore a few months previously in Great Exhibition Bay, to the south of Parengarenga Harbour. It was of fair size, the carapace alone measuring nearly 3 ft. in length.
III. Common Sea-Snake (Hydrus platurus).
1. The first occurrence of this species known to me dates from 1868 or thereabouts, when a living specimen came ashore a little to the south of Port Waikato. It was discovered by some Maoris, who were naturally afraid to touch it, but with some little trouble managed to guide it into a discarded Wellington boot. They then took it to Mr. Dashwood, the proprietor of the store at Port Waikato, who secured the specimen, sacrificing the better part of a bottle of whisky for its preservation. A few months later he gave it to the late Captain Hutton, by whom it was presented to the auckland Museum, where it still exists. Many years after the capture of the specimen the late Mr. Dashwood gave me a graphic account of the consternation which its arrival created among the Maoris, who were inclined to regard it as a juvenile taniwha.
2. Another specimen in the Museum was stranded at Port Charles in 1878, and was presented by Mr. J. B. Graham; but I have no further information respecting it.
3. In 1883 a specimen was picked up on the beach between
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Raglan and Woody Head, and was forwarded to the Museum for identification. It was in much too advanced a stage of decomposition to be worth preserving.
4. In 1895 a living specimen was stranded just inside Cape Brett, at the Bay of Islands. It came into the possession of Mr. J. H. Greenway, of Russell, who presented it to the Museum.
5. In the summer of 1898 another specimen came ashore alive at Whangarei Heads. The finder gave it to Mr. C. Cooper, of Auckland, who kindly forwarded it to the Museum.
6. In 1903 a living specimen was picked up at Matata, in the Bay of Plenty, and was promptly forwarded to the Museum by Mr. H. L. Burt.
7. In 1905 Mr. E. V. Smith presented a specimen which was found stranded on the west coast, opposite to Dargaville.
8, 9. In addition to the above, the British Museum possesses two half-grown specimens from New Zealand, apparently without any precise locality or date of capture. (See “British Museum Catalogue of Snakes,” vol. 3, p. 268.)
From the above list it is quite evident that this species is of comparatively common occurrence on the coast of the northern portion of the North Island of New Zealand. It would be interesting to ascertain where the individuals breed that visit New Zealand—that is, if the species is not really a permanent resident. According to Semper (quoted in the “Cambridge Natural History,” vol. 8, p. 637), the gravid female visits the shores of low islands, there to give birth to its young between the rocks, and she remains with her offspring for some time.
IV. Ringed Sea-Snake (Platurus colubrinus).
1. In the summer of 1889 an individual of this species came ashore alive near the East Cape. It was forwarded to the office of the Evening Star, Auckland, and was very kindly presented to the Museum by the proprietor, Mr. H. Brett.
2. The above is the only specimen that has come under my own notice, but in the British Museum “Catalogue of Snakes” (vol. iii, p. 309) there is a reference to a specimen from New Zealand, presented by Sir George Grey.