192 Transactions. — Zoology. 



and then run with outstretched neck, and bill pointed downwards. When 

 they get pushed hard they go into the first burrow they come to. In Octo- 

 ber the female begins to lay one white oval egg in a nest well lined with 

 leaves and grass, either in a fallen hollow tree, or under the roots of large 

 trees, especially rata, and under stones. The male hatches the egg. The 

 female is much larger, and has a larger bill than the male. The cry of the 

 male is shriller than that of the female. This bird is to be found from 

 Dusky Sound along tbe coast (and also inland) to Casket Point, but every- 

 where rare, as the burrows have no shelter, and the bird no means of 

 defence against the attacks of the number of dogs and cats run wild, who 

 prey upon them, and I fear this peculiar and interesting bird will soon dis- 

 appear, even from these beautiful and lovely wilds. I found in their crops 

 insects and their larvae, also a number of small stones for digestion. 



3. Apteryx oweni. Grey Kiwi. 



This bird is the smallest of the four existing species of Apteryx. In the 

 sounds they are not very plentiful, they prefer dry and high spurs, where 

 plenty of dead logs are lying about. I have, however, found them both in the 

 low lands, and at over 2,000 feet above sea-level. • They like places with 

 several openings and plenty of room, and it is astonishing what small 

 openings they go in and out of. Some I measured were only 3 and 4 inches 

 in diameter. With the assistance of my dog it sometimes took me half a 

 day to secure a bird, and very often I had to give up without result. 



They go about singly till the pairing begins, and then both sexes call 

 each other, and they continue in pairs till the female lays one large white 

 oval egg. They build their nest together out of dry leaves and grass, which 

 they carry in with their bill. The male hatches the egg. After laying 

 they soon separate, and I have never found the female near the nest. The 

 young birds are soon left to look after themselves. 



I am certain that this kiwi breeds twice in a year, or in different 

 seasons, as I have found a half-grown bird on the 21st June, a six-weeks- 

 old bird on the 14th August, and one about two months old on the 3rd 

 September. All these birds have been left by their parents. On the 16th 

 September I found up the mountains (no name), 1,500 feet high, a male 

 sitting on an egg in a nest under a rata, which he broke in defending by 

 striking with his leg in a similar manner to all species of Apteryx. From 

 that time I examined several nests. In this species also the male is smaller, 

 and has a shorter bill than the female ; also the cry is different, that of the 

 male being shriller. 



In their crops I have found insects, larvte, berries and stones for diges- 

 tion. This kiwi is distributed over the most isolated and uninhabited 

 districts of the South Island, but its circle is getting every year narrower, 

 as where civilization and culture appear, this bird soon disappears. 



