90 The Kiwis, or Wingless Birds of New Zealand 



take entire charge of incubating the egg (or eggs), and although the female is 

 often found in the same hole, she has not been observed sitting on the eggs. The 

 period of incubation is unknown, but is thought to be about six weeks, and at the 

 close of his duties the male presents a sorry appearance, being poor in flesh and 

 quite stupid, while the female is wide awake and full of fight, a reversion of the 

 conditions prevailing before the egg was laid. The young are quite helpless when 

 hatched, and are unable to stand up, but as soon as they acquire sufficient strength 

 they accompany their parents. 



The Kiwis are referred to a single genus (Apteryx), and to five and by some 

 authorities to six forms. Rothschild, who has had a much greater number of 

 specimens at his disposal than any previous student, recognizes five forms as 

 follows: The South Island Kiwi (A. australis), known locally as the Roa, which 

 has the plumage rather light colored and the feathers of the neck soft and less 

 bristly to the touch. The male is about twenty-three inches in length and the 

 female twenty-seven inches, while the bill, which is a clear horn-color, is about 

 five inches long. This species, which is confined to the South Island and adja- 

 cent smaller islands, is still quite abundant in suitable locations, but like so many 

 of the native species, it is yearly becoming rarer. A subspecies of this, known 

 as Mantell's Kiwi (A. a. mantelli), found only on the North Island, has the 

 plumage darker with the neck-feathers bristly and harsh to the touch. In both 

 these forms the feathers of the upper side are striped, whereas in the remaining 

 species the feathers of the upper side are barred. Of these Haast's Kiwi (A. 

 haasti) of South Island is a very large species, the male attaining a length of 

 twenty-five inches and the female about twenty-seven inches. It is light brown 

 in color, with wide light bars, while Owen's or the Gray Kiwi (A. oweni), and its 

 subspecies, the Larger Gray Kiwi (A. o. occidenlalis), have the plumage more 

 grayish, with narrower bright cross-bars; the species is confined to South Island 

 and the subspecies to South Island and the southwestern portions of North 

 Island. The form inhabiting Stewart Island was formerly considered distinct, 

 but proves to be only a large, brightly colored strain of australis. 



The Kiwis of Stewart Island were fast approaching extinction, but as the 

 island has recently been set aside as a sort of game preserve, it is possible that 

 it may survive for many years. The following entertaining account of its habits 

 is by a Mr. Marklund, who was a resident collector before the* island was pro- 

 tected by law. He says: "At the end of July I came down from the hills, and 

 on this trip I found that the Kiwi were moving down to the lower country, prob- 

 ably for nesting purposes. After some practice with a leaf of wild flax held in a 

 certain position between my two thumbs I can fairly well imitate their cry. I 

 have discovered that the best time for these birds is a moonlight night, with a sky 

 somewhat overcast. If it is too light, the birds will not leave the scrub. They 

 also object to rainy weather. Though apparently insensible to pain when attacked 

 by a dog, they are naturally very timid. If the moon is bright, their own shadow 

 will sometimes cause them uneasiness; indeed, I have seen one make a kick at 

 its own shadow on the ground, accompanied by that peculiar hissing sound they 

 make when confined in a pen. I have noticed also that a smaller bird will run 



