68 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



Emu, and Rhea) the hind-toe or hallux has disappeared ; while in 

 another (Ostrich) only two toes are left. The pelvis of the kiwi and 

 moa is of the simplest avian type, both pubis and ischia being free ; 

 in the cassowary and emu the ischium unites with the ilium ; in the 

 rhea the ischia unite with one another above the intestines — a unique 

 arrange aoent; in the ostrich the pubis unite to form a sympophysis 

 as in most of the higher vertebrates. The feathers have an after- 

 shaft in the emu, cassowary and moa, none in the ostrich, or rhea, or 

 kiwi. In no order of carinate birds do we find such a wide range of 

 variation as this, and when we add to the characters enumerated the 

 extraordinarily aberrant skull and the structure of the egg-shell of 

 Apteryx, the total atrophy of the wings in Dinornis, and even of 

 the shoulder- girdle in some species of the genus, and the striking 

 differences between the sterna, the shoulder-girdle, and the wings of 

 the various genera, we are forced to the conclusion that the existing 

 or lately extinct cursorial birds now known to us are divisible into 

 five well marked orders, each the equivalent of an entire order of 

 Carinatas. Of these one order contains the ostrich alone, another the 

 rheas, a third the emu and the cassowaries, a fourth the moas, and a 

 fifth the kiwis. 



As to the relation of the kiwi to the other genera it has been 

 shown to be most nearly allied as far as its skeleton is concerned, to 

 the moa, differing from it however in many important respects. It 

 must certainly have been isolated at a very distant period, and as far 

 as we can see some of its more striking peculiarities are distinctly 

 correlated to its method of feeding. Most nocturnal animals have 

 large eyes suited for taking the utmost advantage of the semi- 

 darkness, but the kiwi, finding its prey by scent alone, has developed 

 an extraordinarily perfect olfactory sense, while at the same time, 

 having no need to keep watch against beasts of prey, its eyes have 

 diminished in size and efficiency to a degree elsewhere unknown in 

 the bird class. 



BOTANICAL NOTES. 



BY D. PETRIE, M.A., F.L.S. 



Carmichwlia compacta, D. Petrie. This is by far the most showy 

 of the ' native brooms ' found in the South Island, and is hardly 

 inferior in appearance to the beautiful C. odorata, Colenso, of the North 

 Island. It has a strong and very agreeable scent, and in this respect 

 has no rival in the genus. This species is well worthy of cultivation as 

 an ornamental under-shrub, bub I have had no success in my attempts 

 to raise it from seed. A light sandy soil suits it veiy well, and in its 

 native valleys it nowhere grows so luxuriantly as in such situations. 



Tillcea purpurata, Hook, f. This species, hitherto known in our 

 colony only from the North Island, has now been found in Otago. I 

 gathered numerous young specimens in the neighbourhood of Pembroke 

 (Lake Wanaka), in the last days of November of last year. It is a 

 very small species, and from its inconspicuous character easily over- 



