50 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



to be readily distinguished by the touch ; for in the South Island kiwi (A. australis) 

 the feathers of the upper parts feel soft and yielding when stroked against the 

 grain, whereas in Mantell's kiwi, from the North Island, the feathers have stiffened 

 points, and are harsh and prickly to the touch, owing to a peculiarity in the structure 

 of the shaft. 



The kiwis are nocturnal birds, the different species having nearly identical habits, 

 and the following life history of the commonest species, A. mantelli, which we borrow 

 from Buller's excellent account, will therefore also cover the other. 



Of a bird kept in captivity, he writes; It appears to be blinded by the strong glare 

 of sunlight, and although it recovers itself in the shade, it can then only detect objects 

 that are near. Night is the time of its activity, and the whole nature of the bird then 

 undergoes a change. Coming forth from its diurnal retreat full of animation, it moves 

 about the aviary unceasingly, tapping the Avails with its long, slender bill, and probing 

 the ground in search of earth-worms. The feeding of this bird at night with the 

 large glow-worm is a very interesting sight. This annelid, which often attains a 

 length of twelve, and sometimes twenty inches, with a proportionate thickness, emits 

 at night a bright phosphoric light. The mucous matter which adheres to its body 

 appears to be charged with the phosphorus, and on its being disturbed or irritated, the 

 whole surface of the worm is illumined with a bright green light, sufficiently strong to 

 render adjacent objects distinctly visible. Seizing one of these large worms in its lonu; 

 mandibles, the kiwi proceeds to kill it by striking it rapidly on the ground, or against 

 some hard object. During this operation the bird may be clearly seen under the phos- 

 phoric light ; and the slime which attaches itself to the bill and head renders these 

 parts highly phosphorescent, so that, even after the luminous bod} r itself has been 

 swallowed, the actions of the bird are still visible. There is no longer the slow and 

 half stupid movements of the head and neck ; but the bill is darted forward with a 

 restless activity, and travels over the surface of the ground with a continued sniffing 

 sound, as if the bird were guided more by scent than by sight in its search for food. 

 Of some young birds he remarks that they are particularly savage, using their feet as 

 weapons of offence, and manifesting their anger by an audible snapping of the bill ; 

 at other times they emitted a peculiar chuckle, but only once he heard them produce 

 the loud whistling cry which is so familiar to the ear in the wild mountain-haunts of 

 the kiwi. They often huddled together when at rest, laying one upon another, like 

 little pigs; and when sound asleep no amount of noise would rouse them. 



The kiwi, Dr. Buller continues, is in some measure compensated for the absence of 

 wings by its swiftness of foot. When running, it makes wide strides, and carries the 

 body in an oblique position, with the neck stretched to its full extent and inclined for- 

 wards. In the twilight it moves about cautiously, and as noiselessly as a rat, to which 

 indeed, at this time it bears some outward resemblance. In a quiescent posture, the 

 body generally assumes a perfectly rotund appearance ; and it sometimes, but only 

 rarely, supports itself by resting the point of the bill on the ground. It often yawns 

 when disturbed in the daytime, gaping its mandibles in a very grotesque manner. 

 The story of its striking the ground with its feet to bring the earthworms to the sur- 

 face, which appears to have gained currency among naturalists, is as fanciful as the 

 statement of a well-known author that it is capable of "inflicting a dangerous blow, 

 sometimes even killing a dog." 



While hunting for its food, the bird makes a continual sniffing sound through the 

 nostrils. Whether it is guided as much by touch as by smell, I cannot safely say ; but 



