Birds. 3415 



which, with the feathers upon it, does not seem much narrower than 

 the part of the body which immediately succeeds it. A little lower 

 down there is a lateral enlargement from the rudiments of wings push- 

 ing out the feathers, and in front there is a degree of forward curve, 

 but how trifling when compared with that which appertains to birds 

 whose breast-bones have a keel supporting a mass of muscles ! Pro- 

 ceeding downwards, the belly, so much longer than that of other birds, 

 seems to retire somewhat until we come to the thick fleshy legs, which, 

 supplied with their own feathers, are not overlapped by those of the 

 body, but show their whole contour, even standing out so as to allow 

 to be seen above them the interval which exists between the true thigh 

 and the belly. The pale colour, and the finer clothing of the middle 

 space of the under side of the body, give it very much the appearance 

 of that of a mammal ; the size of the lower extremities, and the gene- 

 ral shape reminding one of a kangaroo perhaps more than of a penguin, 

 which has a figure far more thick and compact than the Kiwi-kiwi has. 

 The beak is sloped down considerably, so as to become nearly paral- 

 lel to the neck. I have fancied that in this condition there is more of 

 the white of the eye visible at the hinder part of it, which gives it a 

 wild expression ; but this " white of the eye " is rather of a deep livid 

 colour, not separated from the black by any sudden line. Perhaps the 

 feathers of the head and neck appear more erect than before the put- 

 ting on the attitude of defence, but they are at all times so much so 

 as to have the appearance of fur. There is never the slightest attempt 

 to use the beak in defence either by pecking or biting ; though, from 

 its great strength, it seems that it might be effective in the former way : 

 but the eagle affords a similar instance of reliance upon the feet alone; 

 for Sutherlandshire keepers, who have had many encounters with ea- 

 gles, have assured me that the beak has never been used in those en- 

 gagements, whatever opportunities may have been offered to it. The 

 Kiwi-kiwi seems to have little notion of lowering the head or putting 

 it on one side to avoid the hand that is intruded upon it, though the 

 whole body and neck are then drawn back, the front always towards 

 the enemy. 



When any approach from the front is made to the bird in this war- 

 like state (and it is never possible to avoid causing a demonstration of 

 his wrath, unless by the most gradual advances), he soon shows his 

 method of attack. He suddenly raises his leg, sometimes the right 

 and sometimes the left, and strikes downwards with great force, while 

 the other leg remains a steady and generally unmoved support. In 

 this act he takes a great range, raising his foot quite up to his breast, 



