20 



white spot on each side of the throat, the curious feature, in this case, being that four other birds 

 from the same locality are similarly marked. 



I have received some specimens of this bird from Mr. J. Brough, of Nelson, differing from 

 those obtained further south by the regular and distinct character of the barred and mottled 

 markings on the plumage of both upper and lower surfaces. My correspondent says: " The birds 

 sent are from the Buller River. This species inhabits the dense bush, and seems to prefer dark 

 and gloomy gullies, where the sun scarcely ever penetrates, and where the underscrub is almost 

 always dripping wet. In such places you will sometimes get a whole colony. The most I ever 

 got in one batch was twenty-six birds, at the head of a gully such as I have described. For 

 feeding they select mossy ground with few stones. Their favourite places are where a young- 

 growth of birch-trees has replaced the old forest. Individuals differ, however, very much in their 

 habits. You will see by the sharpness of their claws that the ground roamed over by these birds 

 is very soft. They camp by day in holes of fallen trunks of trees, and come out in the evening to 

 feed." 



I had several of these birds in confinement at the same time as the other species, and was 

 impressed with their extreme gentleness of disposition, as compared with Apteryx laivryi and 

 Apteryx australis. Any two males of the latter, placed together, will fight ; but a number of 

 A. oiveni, confined together, will crowd into each other like pigs, on the best possible terms, 

 as if seeking mutual warmth. They are even more docile than Apteryx liaasti, allowing them- 

 selves to be handled almost without resistance, seldom striking with their feet, and only 

 expressing their alarm or annoyance by an audible snapping of the mandibles. They require, 

 too, to be handled gently, as the feathers come out on the slightest rough usage. 



Mr. C. Robinson, who has spent much time in the South Island, collecting Kiwis, brought me 

 on one occasion, for examination, an egg of this species. It was broadly ovoido-elliptical, 

 measuring 4'4 in. in length by 3 in. in breadth ; milky-white, and with a slightly-polished 

 surface, showing a little discolouration from contact with the bird's feet during incubation. He 

 found it in a hole formed by manuka-roots, and well concealed by the grass ; but the dog scented 

 it out and killed the bird on the nest. This was in September, 1888. 



One of my correspondents, writing from the Karamea Saddle on the 6th April, says : " I 

 expected to find Kiwis very plentiful here, but I have not yet obtained one, although I have been 

 camped in these woods for three months. The forest is nearly all of red-birch, and, owing to the 

 dampness of the woods, the ground is spongy and mossy, with an abundance of worms, which 

 constitute the favourite food of this bird. The District Surveyor, who has an excellent retriever, 

 has caught only two during the last four months. Wood-hens, too, are very scarce. I have 

 collected a few of the brown-legged species. I have preserved them, and will send them to you on 

 my return to Nelson. On the first of April, I came across a family of the red-legged species — male, 

 female, and two young. I captured the two old birds and one young one, all of which I have 

 preserved. The legs of the old birds were quite as red as those of our Wood-pigeon. The most 

 plentiful bird in these woods is the little Rifleman. I have seen only one Saddle-back, which I 

 managed to secure. I am camped at an altitude of 3,300 ft., and have not as yet seen any Tuis 

 or Pigeons. I cannot say that I have actually seen any stoats or weasels here, but they are 

 known to be on the Dart River and on the Rolling River, about fourteen miles from here." Once 

 in the district, there is no withstanding their spread, and with it the absolute extinction of these 

 vanishing species. Nothing can save them. 



At a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, held on April 30th, 1894, Mr. Walter 

 Rothschild remarked as follows : — 



" About three weeks ago I received four living specimens of an Apteryx which were noticed, 

 on their landing, to be very distinct. On careful examination I was at once struck by the 



