CHAP. XIV.] APTERIX AUSTRALIS. 233 



Formerly the kiwi served the natives for food ; 

 it is very fat at some seasons, and its flesh is said 

 to be well tasted ; its skin, which is remarkably 

 strong and tough, especially along the back, was 

 sewn together, and formed highly valued mats. 

 Never having seen one of these mats, I readily con- 

 cluded that the bird itself had become very scarce. 

 I possess, however, fish-hooks to which the feathers 

 of the kiwi are attached as artificial flies; and to 

 that purpose they are well adapted. From all I 

 could ascertain, there exists only one species of 

 this remarkable bird. The male is distinguished 

 by being much larger than the female, and by hav- 

 ing a longer bill ; at least, this is the case in all 

 the specimens the sex of which was ascertained 

 and there are ten or twelve now in England ; 

 and it was also the case in those which I saw in 

 New Zealand in the possession of Mr. Colenzo and 

 the Rev. Richard Taylor, and also in the Museum 

 in Sydney. This difference of size will account for 

 the belief that there were two species. 



If it be true, as the natives assert, that the kiwi 

 is found on Little Barrier Island which is unin- 

 habited, and is situated about nine miles from the 

 main this fact would give rise to curious geolo- 

 gical speculations. How did a bird which cannot 

 fly for its wings, so to speak, are nothing but 

 small crooked appendages, each about an inch and 

 a half long, and terminating in a claw come across 

 the sea to that island ? It would appear that no 



