4198 The Zoologist — October, 1874. 



milk rather more than a month. On leaving the nest the young bird flew 

 steadily and vigorously. I cannot speak too highly of the state of this 

 Western Aviary; its cleanliness and bright appearance are above all 

 praise. — Edward Neivman. 



The AptcryX5 its Mode of Feeding.— While serving in New Zealand, a 

 few years ago, I one day, in visiting a Maori's hut, found on the premises a 

 tame kiwi, and the proprietor about to feed his pot. A small earthen vessel, 

 capable of containing about half-a-pint, was produced, full of ordinary earth- 

 worms, and was placed before the kiwi ; but, to my surprise, although the 

 living mass of food was wriggling and crawling about, as worms are wont, 

 before the bird, he did not in the least appear to comprehend that a 

 sumptuous feast was straight before him, and within si.x inches of his beak. 

 This stage of the proceedings appeared to me rather incomprehensible, as of 

 course I had concluded that the worms were intended to be eaten by the 

 bird. I began to conclude that the kiwi was blind, and I further could not 

 well make out why it was that my noble host — in concert with his wife and 

 the little ones — was all this time much amused, evidently at my expense. 

 Well, when the whole family had had a good laugh at my visible surprise 

 and innocence on the subject, the JNIaori placed one of his fingers against 

 the back of the kiwi's head (as the bird stood stupidly and vacantly looking 

 about in front of the vessel full of worms), and gently pressed it forwards 

 and downwards until the beak touched the worms. Instantly the most 

 fearful gobbling, gulping, and swallowing of worms took place. The 

 heretofore dreamy-looking bird in the most marvellous manner woke up, 

 and truly great were his powers and exertions in the worm-devouring line. 

 Having allowed him to indulge his voracity for a few seconds, his feeder 

 withdrew the vessel an inch or two, and, strange to say, the bird was 

 immediately unconscious of the whereabouts of his food. It was only while 

 his beak was in actual contact with the worms that he had the slightest 

 knowledge of their presence. This fact I tested, as above described, several 

 times. I next asked the Maori to let me see the bird finding its food in its 

 own natural way, and he took it out to the adjoining little garden. Here, 

 under some little Indian corn plants, the kiwi sot to work in the most 

 vigorous manner — albeit in the most promiscuous and hap-hazard way as 

 regards the selection of ground — driving his long beak up to its very base 

 into the soft soil. Every now and again, however, a delay in withdrawing 

 the beak, and great excitement, and evidently the employment of some 

 subterrannean dexterity on the part of the director of the said beak, resulted 

 in. a worm being brought to the surface and quickly devoured. 



[Although this is published in the ' Field ' without the voucher of a real 

 name, it is perfectly reliable. — E. Newman.] 



Ostriches hatching their Eggs. — It may interest some of your readers to 

 know that I have just received news that one hundred ostrich eggs were 



