Order STRTTTHIONES.] [Fiat. APTEEYGID^E. 



APTEEYX HAASTI. 



(LARGE GREY KIWI.) 



Apteryx Jiaasti, Trans. N. Z. Instit. 1871, vol. iv. p. 204. 



Apteryx maxima, Hutton, Cat. Birds of N. Z. 1871, p. 23 (nee Bp.). 



Native names. 

 Roa or Roaroa, and Kiwi-Karuai. 



Ad. similis A. oweni, sed multo major, saturatior, et tergo castaneo tincto. 



Adult. Head and neck dark greyish brown ; the whole of the upper parts as in Apteryx oweni, but darker, 

 the bands being almost black, and the fulvous markings strongly tinged with chestnut ; underparts as 

 in A. oweni, but decidedly darker. Irides black; bill white horn-colour; legs and feet dark brown, 

 changing to brownish black on the posterior aspect of the metatarsi and on the soles ; claws dark horn- 

 colour. Total length 255 inches; bill, along the ridge 4*75, along the edge of lower mandible 5 - 4 ; 

 tarsus 2 - 75 ; middle toe and claw 3 - l ; hallux or hind tarsal claw '75. 



Obs. Another example is slightly smaller and somewhat darker ; and the thighs are marked by two 

 chestnut bars, one on the hind part and the other immediately above the tarsal joint. To which sex 

 these birds belong has not been ascertained, although they are supposed to be females. If they are males, 

 it may be reasonably inferred that the female of this species is considerably larger than Apteryx australis. 



General Remarks. This species resembles Apteryx oweni in general appearance, but is distinguished by its 

 much larger size (equalling that of A. australis), by its darker plumage, which has a strong tinge of 

 chestnut, and by the more robust form and darker colour of its legs and feet. Its metatarsi are armed 

 anteriorly with large and broad scutella, approaching more nearly in this respect to those of A. australis 

 than of the former species, in which the scales are small and rounded. The claws are large, well 

 formed, only slightly arched, and sharp-pointed. The quill-tubes are about an inch in length ; and the 

 terminal claw, which measures - 4 of an inch, is slender, arched, and pointed. The structure of the 

 feathers on the upper parts of the body appears to be similar to that observable in Apteryx australis, the 

 shafts of the feathers being less produced than in A. oweni; and altogether the form appears to be an 

 intermediate one, combining in some degree the distinguishing characters of both. 



Only two specimens of this fine Apteryx are at present known, both of which are in the Canter- 

 bury Museum. These were obtained on the high ranges above Okarita, on the west coast of the 

 South Island, where, according to the resident natives, this Large Grey Kiwi is tolerably common. 



