450 THE GKEAT BUSTARD. 



is a single shaft with hair-like webs at each side. The quill portion of 

 the feathers is remarkably small and short, being even overlapped by 

 the down when the feather is removed from the bird. 



The skin is very tough, and yet flexible, and the chiefs set great value 

 upon it for the manufacture of their state mantles, permitting no infe- 

 rior person to wear them, and being extremely unwilling to part with 

 them even for a valuable consideration. The bird lives mostly among 

 the fern ; and, as it always remains concealed during the day in deep 

 recesses of rocks, ground, or tree-roots, and is remarkably fleet of foot, 

 diving among the heavy fern-leaves with singular adroitness, it is not 

 very easy of capture. It feeds upon insects of various kinds, more es- 

 pecially on worms, which it is said to attract to the surface by jump- 

 ing and striking on the ground with its powerful feet. The natives 

 always hunt the Kiwi-kiwi at night, taking with them torches and 

 spears. The speed of this bird is very considerable, and when running 

 it sets its head rather back, raises its neck, and plies its legs with a vigor 

 little inferior to that of the ostrich. 



The fine specimen in the Zoological Gardens has already proved a 

 very valuable bird, as she has laid several eggs, thereby setting at rest 

 some disputed questions on the subject, and well illustrates the natural 

 habits of the species. 



Upon her box is placed, under a glass shade, the shell of one of her 

 eggs. These eggs are indeed wonderful, for the bird weighs a little 

 more than four pounds, and each egg weighs between fourteen and fif- 

 teen ounces, its length being four and three-quarter inches and its width 

 rather more than two inches, thus being very nearly one-fourth of the 

 weight of the parent bird. 



The long curved beak of the Apteryx has the nostrils very narrow, 

 very small, and set on at each side of the tip, so that the bird is en- 

 abled to pry out the worms and other nocturnal creatures on which it 

 feeds without trusting only to the eyes. The general color of the' Ap- 

 teryx is chestnut-brown, each feather being tipped with a darker hue, 

 and the under parts are lighter than the upper. The height is about 

 two feet. 



Several species of the Apteryx are known. 



Although the progress of civilization has conferred many benefits 

 on this country, it has deprived it of many of its aboriginal inhabitants, 

 whether furred or feathered, the Great Bustard being in the latter 

 category. 



This splendid bird, although in former days quite a usual tenant of 

 plains and commons, and having been an ordinary object of chase on 

 Newmarket Heath, is now so rare that an occasional specimen only 

 makes its appearance at very distant intervals. 



The Great Bustard is not fond of flying, its wings having but a slow 



