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specimens, mj- collector says : I had a very hard joh in jn'ocnriiig these eggs, as 

 the birds do not go far away from their nests while hatching, and of course the dog 

 got a very poor chance of picking up the scent. One of the eggs was somewhat 

 damaged, through the bird defending it from the dog, before I could reach the 

 place ; nevertheless it has a good show side. The larger of the two I procured in 

 a locality where I had never been before, and, owing to the dog being muzzled, the 

 bird that was sitting on the egg managed to escape ; and, inclement weather coming 

 on, it was impossible to get another specimen before I had to leave. In the breeding 

 season the birds never come out on the open grounel — in fact, they seem to be 

 starving themselves in tlieir fear of leaving the nest or its close vicinity. 



" My Stewart Island collector, Mr. 0. Marklund, who is a very observant man, 

 sends me the following notes : At the end of July I came down from the hills ; 

 and on this trip I found that the Kiwis were moving down to the lower country — 

 probably for nesting pnrposes. I should also mention — although it may be already 

 known to you — that I have determined which of the cries are used by either sex. 

 After some practice with a leaf of wild flax held in a certain position between my 

 two thumbs, I can fairly well imitate their cr}'. I have discovered that the best 

 time for these birds is a moonlight night, with the sky somewhat overcast. If it 

 is too light the birds will not leave the scrub. They also object to rainy weather. 

 Thougli apparently insensible to pain when attacked by a dog, they are naturally 

 very timid. If the moon is bright their own shadow will sometimes cause them 

 uneasiness : indeed, I have seen one make a kick at its own shadow on the ground, 

 accompanied by that peculiar hissing sound they make when contined in a pen. I 

 have noticed also that a smaller bird will always ran as hard as his legs will carry 

 him at the least show of anger from a larger and stronger one. By imitating their 

 or)- — the deep, rasjiing one being the more successful — I have always had the clear, 

 shrill one in response. If in the close neighbourhood, I would then send the dog 

 in, and it would always turn out to be a male. The male is generally ready to 

 answer, especially if it does not happen to know where its mate is ; but the female 

 is more independent, and often takes no notice whatever of the call. With this 

 bird the ordinary relationship between the sexes appears to be reversed : for 

 instance, it is the female that undertakes the defence of the house and home, for 

 the male gives in after a very slight struggle ; but the male is the faster runner of 

 the two. After the young is big enough to follow its parents the male (not the 

 female) seems to take special charge of it. The male has a high shrill cry ; the 

 female utters a low, hoarse note — between a cry and a hiss. In one case I heard 

 the male uttering the cackling noise — like a hen with chicks — but that may be 

 common to both sexes. Although a nocturnal bird, its sight is weak even at night, 

 for I have seen them running against objects that could easily be avoided ; but 

 their hearing and sense of smell are very acute. By going against the wind I have 

 got to within 10 feet of them and seen them feeding. They do not confine 

 themselves to worms, but will also take any kind of vegetable matter available — 

 for example, the young shoots of a very common aljiiue orchid. I have found three 

 difl'ereut kinds of seed and a small white berry (of which I have not yet seen the 

 plant) in the stomachs of those I have opened. Enclosed you will find some of 

 the seeds on which the Kiwis subsist. I do not understand how they can tind any 

 nourishment without cracking the seeds, but the fact remains that they do, for 1 

 have found these seeds in the stomachs of several that I have opened. The grass 

 producing this seed grows in great abundance up to a level of 2,0W feet above the 



