THE SOUTHERN KIWI 343 



dazzle the birds' eyes. The kiwis go about in pairs, and the 

 huntere endeavoured to secure the female first, easily distinguish- 

 ing it by its large size. As the male lingered about the spot to 

 protect its mate, both fell into the trap. Formerly the Maoris 

 were skilful kiwi hunters. They delighted in the sport, "and 

 many a group would they form to pass a dark, tempestuous night 

 in the forest, in order to decoy and catch these birds. ' ' 



The method of procedure in the hunt is related in the following 

 words by a Maori friend of Mr. S. Percy Smith: — "The kiwi 

 prefers a worm above all other foods. First comes one and then 

 another kiwi, in search of worms, their heads always on one side, 

 w^ith an ear turned to the ground, listening for the creeping of 

 the worm beneath the soil. As soon as one of them hears the 

 creeping in the soil, down goes his beak, right to the worm, which 

 it brings up to eat. The creeping noise of the worm in the soil 

 is like that made by the hand of a watch, but rather louder. That 

 is what the kiwi listens for. On account of this habit, the hunter 

 carefully prepares little pieces of wood, which are tied to the 

 dogs' necks, so that they may rattle as the animals move. Hearing 

 this, the kiwi thinks that it is a worm, and stops to listen. While 

 it is doing this the dogs are able to approach, and, by the time 

 it starts to run, the dogs are baiting it. The men then advance 

 with their torches, which are burning, and consequently the birds 

 cannot see, and are caught and killed. The kiwis are never 

 hunted by daylight." The skins of the birds were much sought 

 after as material for mats, and the flesh was eaten. 



The Southern Kiwi. — Rowi. 



Apteryx australis. 



Greyish brown, streaked longitudinally with black. All the feathers 

 soft to the touch. Bill slightly curved. Claw on the wing slightly curved, 

 and of a light horn colour. Eye, black. Male, length of the bill, .3.5 in. to 

 5.5 in.; of the tarsus, 2.25 in. to 3.5 in. In the female — Bill, 5.5 in. to 

 7.55 in.; of the tarsus, Sin. to 3.5 in. Egg — White; length, 5 in. West 

 Coast of the South Island and Stewart Island. 



Apteryx australis, which was the first species made known to 

 science, is called rowi by the IMaoris, and big kiwi by the miners. 



