Oedee APTEEYGES.] 
[Eam. APTERTGID^. 
APTEETX HAASTI. 
(LAEGE GREY KIWI.) 
Apteryx haasti, Potts, Trans. N.-Z. Inst. 1871, vol. iv. p. 204. 
Apteryx maxima, Hutton, Cat. Birds of N. Z. 1871, p. 23 (nec Bp.). 
Native names. 
Boa or Eoaroa, and Kiwi-karuai. 
Ad. similis A. oweni, sed multo major, saturatior, et tergo castaneo tincto. 
Adidt. Head and neck dark greyish hr own; the whole of the upper parts as in Apteryx oweni, but darker, the 
hands being almost black, and the fulvous markings strongly tinged with chestnut ; underparts as in A. oweni, 
but decidedly darker. Irides black ; bill white horn-colour ; legs and feet dark brown, changing to brownish 
black on the posterior aspect of the metatarsi and on the soles ; claws dark horn-colour. Total length 25'5 
inches ; bill, along the ridge 4'75, along the edge of lower mandible 5 ’4; tarsus 2'75 ; middle toe and claw 
3"1 ; hallux or hind tarsal claw '75. 
Ohs, Another example is slightly smaller and somewhat darker; and the thighs are marked by two chestnut 
bars, one on the hind part and the other immediately above the tarsal joint. To which sex these birds belong 
has not been ascertained, although they are supposed to be females. If they are males, it may be reasonably 
inferred that the female of this species is considerably larger than Apteryx australis. 
General Remarks. This species resembles Apteryx oweni in general appearance, but is distinguished by its much 
larger size (equalling that of A. australis), by its darker plumage, which has a strong tinge of chestnut, and 
by the more robust form and darker colour of the legs and feet. Its metatarsi are armed anteriorly with 
large and broad scutella, approaching more nearly in this respect to those of A. australis than of the former 
species, in which the scales are small and rounded. The claws are large, well formed, only slightly arched, 
and sharp-pointed. The quill-tubes are about an inch in length ; and the terminal claw, which measures '4 
of an inch, is slender, arched, and pointed. The structure of the feathers on the upper parts of the body 
appears to be similar to that observable in Apteryx australis, the shafts of the feathers being less produced 
than in A. oweni ; and altogether the form appears to be an intermediate one, combining in some deo-ree the 
distinguishing characters of both. 
At the time of my first edition only two specimens of this fine Apteryx were known, both of which 
belonged to the Canterbury Museum. These were obtained on the high ranges above Okarita, on the 
west coast of the South Island, where, according to the resident natives, this large Grey Kiwi is 
tolerably common. Since that date another specimen (also from the west coast) has been received at 
the Museum, difiering from those previously described in being somewhat darker and more strongly 
suffused Avith chestnut ; indeed the coloration is almost as dark as in Apteryx mantelli, thus falsifying 
Dr. Finsch’s opinion that its plumage “ entirely agrees with Apteryx oweni, and is by no means 
darker ” *. 
* Trans. K.-Z. Inst. vol. vii. p. 236. 
