WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



the living representatives of this group or family of 

 Struthiones, to the remaining species of Apteryx, and since 

 the introduction into New Zealand of cats, dogs, and pigs, 

 many of these latter having become wild in the bush, the 

 Apteryx, like the Dodo of old, must rapidly disappear. 



We have here an illustration of the value of possessing 

 living examples of rare and little-known animals, for with- 

 out the opportunity of testing the truth or accuracy of 

 the reports of native and other careless observers, many 

 fabulous and absurd remarks are introduced to us, and 

 for the want of knowledge we are led to believe them. 



In appearance the bird is about the size of a common 

 fowl, the body is as round as a Dutch cheese, the bill is 

 white, about 3 in. long, the eyes small and black, the 

 plumage soft and hairlike, of a pale silvery grey, finely 

 barred with darker grey. The legs and toes are white, 

 or pale flesh colour, and about the size of those of a 

 common fowl. 



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