DINORNITHIDAE 



41 



the head. Grubs, beetles, moUuscs, and berries are also eaten., 

 with grit or pebbles as digestives. The loud whistling note, 

 which gives the name to the Kiwi, is chiefly heard on light 

 nights, that of the female being shorter, and the young uttering 

 a chuckling or kitten-like cry. Growls are emitted by the birds 

 when disturbed, and they have a curious way of yawning in the 

 daytime. The nest is usually in an enlarged space at the end 

 of a round tunnel in the soft earth, said to be made by the 

 female alone, the opening being under a tree-root, a stone, or a 

 tussock of grass ; it consists merely gf a little dry fern, herbage, 

 or a few leaves. The eggs — generally two in number, though 

 one is often found, and three are recorded — are enormous for the 

 size of the bird, and are equal to a quarter of its weight ; they 

 are pure white, or slightly green in hue, with a smooth surface, 

 recalling by their appearance those of the Whooper. The 

 Ma(iries are very fond of the flesh, either roasted or boiled, 

 and hunt Kiwis systematically with muzzled dogs, while of old 

 the chiefs utilised the plumage for ornamentation. The cock- 

 performs most, if not all, of the duties of incubation, and attends 

 upon the young. Females lay in captivity, but no chicks appear 

 to have been hatched as yet under these conditions. 



V. DINORNITHES. 



The Family Dinomithidae contains those well-known extinct 

 New Zealand forms the Moas, as they are supposed to have been 

 denominated by the Maories, some of which were of gigantic size. 

 The larger species must have been comparatively rare, judging 

 by the fossils obtained, while some seem to have survived until 

 about four or five hundred years ago, or even a century later in 

 the South Island. Being flightless, these birds were easily slaugh- 

 tered by the natives, who were very fond of the flesh, and were 

 captured when exhausted by repeated spear-wounds, after they 

 had been driven from their retreats by burning the grass and vege- 

 tation. It was not until the year 1839 that a femur-shaft was 

 exhibited by Owen to the Zoological Society of London, that being 

 the first portion of a Moa known to have reached this country ; but 

 since the above date an immense quantity of bones of all descrip- 

 tions have been procured in many parts of both the Worth and 

 the South Islands, some hidden under the sand or exposed upon 



