MANTELL’S APTERYX. 
Apteryx mantelli. 
Plate XLIY. 
The existence in New Zealand of the singular form of wingless birds generally known as the Apteryx or 
Kiwi, was first brought to our knowledge by the late Dr. Shaw; a specimen procured about the year 1812, 
on the south coast of the Middle island, by Captain Barcley, of the ship Providence, having been described by 
that author, in his “ Naturalist’s Miscellany,” as the Apteryx australis. This bird afterwards passed into the 
collection of the late Earl of Derby, and was for many years the only example of this peculiar being to be 
found in any of the Museums of Europe. 
It has lately been shown by Mr. Bartlett, in a communication made to the Zoological Society, that the 
Apteryx now generally known in this country is not the true Apteryx australis of the Middle island of New 
Zealand, but a different species, believed to be peculiar to the northern island, which he has proposed to 
call Apteryx mantelli, in honour of the late distinguished Geologist, Dr. Mantell. It is true that the two birds 
are very much alike, but they seem to be separated by constant differences which, though slight, are 
sufficient to distinguish them. A third member of this group, Owen’s Apteryx (Apteryx owenii), is also found 
on the Middle island, and there is every reason to believe that a fourth species, of much larger dimensions, 
which has been called by anticipation Apteryx maxima, is still existing in the mountainous ranges of the 
same island, although specimens of it have not yet been subjected to scientific examination. 
The female Apteryx now in the collection of the Zoological Society is believed to be the only bird of the 
sort ever brought to Europe in a living state. It was obtained for the Society, in 1852, by Lieut.-Governor 
Eyre, and conveyed to England by Captain Erskine, R.N., then in command of H.M.S. Havannah. After being 
nearly seven years in the Gardens, this bird laid an egg, on the 9tli of June, 1859. The egg, when deposited, 
weighed 14J oz., the contents thereof weighing 13J oz. The weight of the living bird was ascertained to be 
GO oz., so that the egg of this species appears to be nearly equal to one-fourth the whole weight of the bird. 
The same female has since laid several other eggs of nearly similar weight and dimensions. 
The Apteryx is strictly nocturnal in its habits, and never shows itself voluntarily by daylight. Upon 
being brought out by its keeper for exhibition to visitors, and fed with a tit-bit or two in the shape of some 
living earth-worms, it never fails, on the moment of its release, to run back to its concealment of straw, where 
it remains until again summoned forth to gratify the curiosity of the public. If a visit, however, be paid to 
it during the night, it will be found running about and lively enough, searching into every crevice and corner 
with its long, sensitive bill. This bird has now lived in perfect health upwards of nine years in the Society’s 
Gardens, and could other examides of it be obtained, there is little reason to doubt that the species might be 
successfully reproduced in this country. 
