In 1922 the Animals Protection and Game Act set out a list of protected birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibia, and specified that it was illegal to have their skins eggs, and feathers in private possession. As a commentary on the predominance of birds in the New Zealand fauna, the entries in this list under the heading “Birds” filled just short of four pages, whilst under “Mammalia” appeared only the two native bats, under “Reptiles” the tuatara and under “Amphibia” two native frogs.