Vol. XXII. 

 192.? 



H.VEUSLER, .Vo/^.s- on flic Ki 



Ml 



search by la[){)inij. The young hird could ne\er be teni[)ted to 

 take its food in this manner. 



Tn searching for earth-worms they showed a consideral)le de 

 gree of ingenuity. The Imnt opened with the usual ta])i)ing. 

 When by this means the bird discovered the burrow of one of 

 these worms it set to work at once enlarging the opening, using 

 its bill as a workman uses his crowbar. When it had formed a 

 funnel-like depression, it in.serted its bill and took a good hold of 

 the worm. With a steady ])ull it often succeeded in bringing its 

 victim to the surface. When it was not able to do so, it cea.sed 

 pulling, as continuing to do so would have resulted in tearing 

 the worm and losing the greater part, and leaning well back re- 

 mained in the same position, waiting, without the faintest move- 

 ment of any part of its body, until the worm, tired out by its 



A Kiwi taking a steady pull at a Worm 



exertion, momentarily relaxed its hold. Then with another 

 steady pull generally drew it out of its burrow. When this 

 .second attempt failed, it would repeat the same performance 

 until the worm was finally dislodged. 



It was only when searching for food under the thick clumps 

 of grass or under heaps of dead leaves that the process of tapping 

 was modified or altogether dispensed with. In this case the birds 

 followed the more familiar habits of Ducks. 



Kiwis are blessed with a remarkably healthy appetite. The 

 (juantity of food which they could dispose of at one meal was 

 truly astonishing, yet after a short time they were ready for an- 

 other feast. Once firmly held the food was conveyed to the ali- 

 mentary apparatus by means of a succession of peculiar jerks, 

 neck and bill being held almost horizontally during the process. 

 Even very large pieces of meat were easily and quickly de- 

 spatched in this manner. 



As the old bird showed a great dislike for the wire netting, 1 



