344 Birds. 



THE APTEEYX. (Apteryx Australia.) 



THIS curious bird, which has the shortest wings of any 

 member of its class, is found only in New Zealand, where 

 it is called Kiw-Kivi by the natives, in imitation of its 

 cry. It is smaller than any of the species of wingless 

 birds just described, and its legs are short and stout ; it 

 has three strong front toes on each foot, and a short 

 hinder toe armed with a very strong claw. The body of 

 the Apteryx is something like that of the cassowary in 

 its form ; the neck is rather long, and, like the head, 

 clothed with feathers ; but the most singular part of the 

 bird is its bill, which is long, rather slender, and slightly 

 curved, and has the nostrils situated quite at its tip. This 

 curious structure of the bill is intended to enable the 

 bird more readily to obtain the worms and insects upon 

 which it feeds, and which it drags out of their holes in 

 the ground. It runs quickly, but only at night, and 

 when in motion it might easily be mistaken for a small 

 dusky-brown quadruped. The plumage resembles that 

 of the emeu in its texture, and the skins are highly 

 esteamed by the New Zealanders, who use them for 

 making cloaks. 



Among the many curious characteristics of this bird 

 is its habit of leaning, when at rest, upon the tip of its 

 long bill. When hunted it scrapes a hole in the sand 

 with its powerful feet, in which it hides ; or it runs into 

 some natural cavity, if there is any near, where access 

 is difficult for its pursuers, and often makes a valiant 

 defence. 



