32 A LETTER FROM MAORI-LAND. 



finest specimens which have been found. The food of the Moa 

 seems to have been entirely of a vegetable nature, and small 

 pebbles were swallowed to aid in the grinding of the food. 



Another of the characteristic birds of New Zealand which 

 seems doomed to follow its relative the Moa and become a thing 

 of the past, is the pretty little Kiwi, Apteryx Manteli (Bart). 

 This bird is still moderately common in the more secluded 

 mountain forests, but not having the power of flight, and being 

 entirely dependent on its acute senses for safety, it is gradually 

 becoming rarer. We have had the pleasure of minutely inspecting 

 several fresh specimens. The wings are exceedingly rudimentary, 

 being merely little naked stumps, and are entirely concealed 

 beneath the dense covering of long, hair-like feathers. The legs 

 are strong and heavy, the beak is long and slender, having the 

 nostrils at the tip. We have seen birds infested with large 

 numbers of parasites, but we think we have never seen one so 

 overwhelmed with them as the poor little Kiwi. A species of 

 mite (Acarus) is found about the shafts of the feathers, literally in 

 myriads. After the bird is killed, they come crawling in writhing 

 masses on to the ends of the feathers, and so excessively numerous 

 are they, that the feathers are quite hid beneath the great 

 multitude. Then there are three or four different species of 

 Ixodes^ or Ticks, the smaller species of which can be counted in 

 dozens, and the larger ticks are nearly as abundant. Truly it is a 

 hard matter to understand how the poor bird manages to exist at 

 all under such a load of blood-suckers. The Kiwi and the Tree- 

 Fern are incorporated in the national arms of New Zealand, and 

 it would be a great pity if such an interesting emblem of a past 

 age, as this bird is, were allowed to die out. 



We have but little more to add to this paper. It was our 

 intention to say something about the Maories themselves, regard- 

 ing whom we have been able to glean much exceedingly interest- 

 ing information, but we are greatly hampered through want of 

 time. All our leisure is naturally given up to the collection 

 and preservation of the numberless specimens, new to us, which 

 are constantly coming under our observation. 



