TEMPERATURE OF BIRDS 



is that the fishlets mistook the waving feathers of the 

 bird for water-weed, and nestling there fell a prey to 

 their deception. 



THE KIWI OR APTERYX 



The peaceful kiwi gave rise some years ago to a 

 rather warm controversy between the leaders of zoolo- 

 gical opinion. To Sir Richard Owen it appeared to 

 be the long wanted link between the equally warm 

 blooded mammals and birds, which that anatomist 

 bracketed together in the series on account chiefly of 

 the warmth of their blood. The slightly higher tem- 

 perature of the blood in birds was thought by him, and 

 so far naturally, to be less of a bar to their association 

 with mammals, than the pure cold-bloodedness of 

 the sullen reptile, to an association with the birds. 

 Professor Huxley, however, insisted upon the close 

 alliance of birds and reptiles and plainly showed that 

 certain supposed resemblances between the apteryx 

 and the mammal in the midriff or diaphragm had no 

 real existence, and that the apteryx was typically 

 ornithic. Now a middle position between these two 

 extremes is held. We do not consider the bird as in any 

 way near to the mammals ; but we consider them to be 

 quite remote from the reptiles and not to be placed 

 with them in one great group. Nevertheless, we admit 

 a closer position to reptiles than to mammals. The 

 apteryx is one of those birds which it will be difficult 

 for the visitor to get a peep at. It is quite nocturnal 

 in habit, and snuggles down during the day in such 

 retirement as is provided for it. At night it sallies 

 forth, and in New Zealand, where it alone occurs, 

 devotes itself to extracting earthworms from the soil. 

 With great deliberation does it drag these wriggling 

 creatures from their holes, as if realizing that earth- 

 worms like beefsteak thrust into the pocket must " be 



219 



