490 ORDER CURSORES. APTERYX ; DODO. 



which it excavates in the ground. These holes are its breeding 

 places, and conduct to a deep chamber in which the Bird deposits 

 its eggs upon a bed of fern. The food of the Apteryx consists of 

 insects and particularly of worms ; the latter it procures by thrust- 

 ing its bill into the soil, when soft, and drawing them forth ; or 

 by striking with its bill and feet on the ground, when it is hard, 

 so as to disturb the worms, which it seizes as soon as they make 

 their appearance. Its habits are nocturnal; and the natives 

 hunt it by torchlight for the sake of its skin, which is much 

 valued by them, as a material for the chiefs' dresses. When it 

 is pursued, it elevates its head like an Ostrich, and runs with 

 great swiftness ; and if overtaken, it defends itself with great 

 spirit and vigour, and inflicts dangerous blows with its spur- 

 armed feet. This remarkable Bird seems likely to be soon exter- 

 minated from the very limited portion of the globe which it 

 inhabits at present ; and must then be numbered among the 

 races that have been. 



441. It is a fact of no little interest, that this family should 



FIG. 279. DODO. 



include two other very remarkable Birds, whose existence we 

 learn only from tradition, and from some very imperfect remains 



