Order  VI.  STRUTHIONES. 
Family  1.  Strutiiioxid^:. 
The  second  Subfamily, 
APTERYGINiE,  or  Kivis, 
have  the  Bill  lengthened,  very  slender  :  the  base  covered  by  a  bony  cere,  broad,  and  rather  depressed  ; 
with  the  tip  hanging  over  that  of  the  lower  mandible  ;  the  nostrils  placed  at  the  tip,  small,  and 
sublinear. 
Apteryx  Share.* 
Bill  more  or  less  lengthened,  very  slender ;  with  the  base  covered  by  a  bony  cere,  broad,  and  rather 
depressed  ;  the  culmen  rounded,  straight  to  near  the  tip,  which  projects  over  that  of  the  lower  mandible, 
and  rather  obtuse  ;  the  sides  gradually  compressed,  and  grooved  towards  the  end  ;  the  gonys  very  long 
and  slightly  curved ;  the  nostrils  placed  on  each  side  at  the  tip,  very  small,  and  sublinear ;  the  base  of 
the  bill  furnished  with  lengthened  hairs.  Wings  abbreviated,  and  covered  with  feathers.  Tail  not 
apparent.  Tarsi  the  length  of  the  middle  toe,  very  robust,  and  covered  with  variously  sized  scales, 
those  of  the  inner  and  outer  sides  the  smallest.  Toes  three  before,  with  the  lateral  ones  equal,  and  all 
covered  above  with  broad  scales  ;  the  hind  toe  very  short,  united  to  the  tarsus,  and  armed  with  a  long, 
strong,  and  rather  acute  claw. 
This  singular  bird  is  scattered  over  various  parts  of  New  Zealand,  especially  those  covered  with  extensive  and  dense 
beds  of  ferns,  which  afford  it  a  place  of  concealment  when  alarmed.  It  runs  with  swiftness,  and  sometimes  hides  itself 
in  holes  of  rocks  or  hollow  trees.  Its  food  is  supposed  to  consist  of  snails,  insects,  and  worms,  which  it  is  said  to  seek 
for  during  the  night ;  the  latter  are  obtained  by  beating  the  earth  with  its  foot,  and  it  seizes  them  with  its  bill  the 
instant  they  appear  above  the  ground.  The  nest  is  usually  placed  at  the  base  of  a  hollow  tree,  or  in  deep  holes 
excavated  in  the  ground. 
A.  australis  Shaw,  Nat.  Misc.  pi.  10.57,  1058.  —  Dromiceius  nova.-  zealandia?  Less.  Gould,  B.  of  Austr.  pi.,  Voy.  de  l'Astrol,  Ois.  t  24., 
Trans,  of  Zool.  Soc.  1.  pi.  10. 
*  Established  by  Shaw  (Naturalist's  Miscellany,  pi.  1057,  1058.). 
April,  1846. 
