THE KIWIS 337 



close up to the steamer, where it was anchored for the evening, 

 settled in the water within a few yards of the vessel, and swam 

 cahnly about quacking like a domestic duck. 



How the southern merganser got to New Zealand is a puzzle. 

 It is a northern genus, the members of which migrate southwards 

 in the winter to the Black Sea and China ; while in America these 

 go as far as the Bermudas. There is also a species in Brazil, but 

 none between that and New Zealand. 



Sub-class Ratitae. 



Breast-bone without a keel. Barbs of the feathers, discon- 

 nected. Flightless. 



Family Apterygidae. 



Bill much longer than the head, the nostrils near the tip. Three 

 toes in front and one behind. Wings rudimentary. New Zealand 

 only. 



Genus Apteryx. 



Tarsi about the length of the middle toe, very robust; lateral 

 toes equal ; hind toe short, elevated above the others. 



Key to the Species. 



1. Brown with longitudinal streaks. 2 

 Grey with transverse bars. 3 



2. Feathers soft to the touch. A. australis. 

 Feathers of the back harsh to the touch. A. niantelli. 



3. Smaller, bill straight. 4 

 Larger, bill curved. A. haasti. 



4. Bars confused. A. oweni. 

 Bars distinct. A. occidentalis. 



In the absence of the extinct moa, the kiwi is the most notable 

 living bird of New Zealand, and should be classed among the 

 colony's treasured possessions. 



It is an anomaly. While it has been aptly described by Dr. 

 Wallace as one of the queerest and most unbird-like of living 

 birds, it apparently represents several widely different orders in 

 its heterogeneous structure. Sir R. Owen says that it seems to 



