570 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



locality. As far as I am able to ascertain, all the specimens 

 of Apteryx mantelli are from the North Islands. 



" The favourite localities of this bird are those covered with 

 extensive and dense beds of fern, among which it conceals 

 itself, and, when hard pressed by dogs, the usual mode of 

 chasing it, takes refuge in crevices of the rocks, hollow trees, 

 and in the deep holes which it excavates in the ground, in 

 the form of a chamber ; in these latter situations it is said to 

 construct its nest of dried fern and grasses, and to deposit its 

 eggs, the number and colour of which have not been clearly 

 ascertained." 



" While undisturbed," says Mr. Short, in a letter to Mr. 

 Yarrell, " the head is carried far back in the shoulders, with 

 the bill pointing to the ground ; but, when pursued, it runs 

 with great swiftness, carrying the head elevated like the 

 Ostrich. It is asserted to be almost exclusively nocturnal in 

 its habits, and it is by torchlight that it is usually hunted by 

 the natives, by whom it is sought after with the utmost 

 avidity, the skins being highly prized for the dresses of the 

 chiefs ; indeed, so much are they valued, that the natives can 

 rarely be induced to part with them. The feathers are also 

 employed to construct artificial flies for the capture of fish, 

 precisely after the European manner. When attacked it 

 defends itself very vigorously, striking rapid and dangerous 

 blows with its powerful feet and sharp spur ; with which it 

 is also said to beat the ground in order to disturb the worms 

 upon which it feeds, seizing them with its bill the instant 

 they make their appearance; it also probably feeds upon 

 snails, insects, etc." 



" The Apteryx is so scarce a bird, even in New Zealand," says 

 Dr. Sclater, " that it can hardly be expected that we should be 

 well acquainted with its mode of reproduction. His Excel- 

 lency Su* George Grey has lately sent me an extract from a 

 letter addressed to him by T. E. Manning, Esq., dated Hoki- 

 anga, on the north-western coast of the Northern Island, 



