THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



75 



at base ; head and eyes small, neck rather long. 

 Feet with short stout shanks, and three front toes 

 without basal web, and a small rudimentary hind- 

 toe set on above the level of the rest ; thighs large 

 and stout. Wings smaller than in any other bird, 

 bent permanently at the elbow, and not easily 

 seen ; they are furnished with a claw at the tip 

 and with minute soft quill-feathers. No external 

 tail, but oil-gland present. 



PLUMAGE. Very lax and hairy-looking ; no sexual 

 difference ; but the females are larger. 



Head and foot of Kiwi. 



YOUNG. Active and feeding themselves, clad in 



uniform-coloured hairy-looking down. 

 NEST. In a burrow dug out by the female with her 



feet. 

 EGGS. Two, white, of enormous size in proportion 



to the bird. 

 INCUBATION. Said to be six weeks, the male only 



sitting, or rather lying across the eggs. 

 FOOD. Worms, insects, and berries ; gravel is taken 



to aid digestion. They jerk food down the throat 



like an ostrich. 



GAIT. A walk or a quick run. 

 NOTE. A prolonged double whistle, whence the name 



Kiwi (kee-wee). 



