THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



75 



at base ; head and eyes small, neck rather long. 

 Feet with short stout shanks, and three front toes 

 without basal web, and a small rudimentary hind- 

 toe set on above the level of the rest ; thighs large 

 and stout. Wings smaller than in any other bird, 

 bent permanently at the elbow, and not easily 

 seen ; they are furnished with a claw at the tip 

 and with minute soft quill -feathers. No external 

 tail, but oil-gland present. 

 Plumage. — Very lax and hairy-looking ; no sexual 

 difference ; but the females are larger. 





Head and foot of Kiwi. 



Young. — ^Active and feeding themselves, clad in 



uniform-coloured hairy-looking down. 

 Nest. — In a burrow dug out by the female with her 



feet. 

 Eggs. — Two, white, of enormous size in proportion 



to the bird. 

 Incubation. — Said to be six weeks, the male only 



sitting, or rather lying across the eggs. 

 Food. — Worms, insects, and berries ; gravel is taken 



to aid digestion. They jerk food down the throat 



like an ostrich. 

 Gait. — A walk or a quick run. 

 Note. — A prolonged double whistle, whence the name 



Kiwi (kee-wee). 



