KIWIS. 
5 6 9 
while if a visitor shows any symptoms of fear when brought into a paddock or 
park containing one or more of these birds, and attempts to escape by flight, he 
will be certain to be pursued. On one occasion, at Sydney, a man thus hunted by 
a tame emeu, was much astonished at having his hat removed by the bird. In 
such chases, emeus appear to be actuated more by a spirit of mischief than anything 
else; but when they are brought to bay, and to kicking out with their muscular 
legs, they are formidable adversaries. In kicking, the blow is delivered outwards 
and backwards. 
Allied Extinct It is not a little remarkable that during the Pliocene period there 
Bir ds. existed in Northern India a three-toed Ratite bird apparently closely 
allied to the emeus and cassowaries; thus showing that in former times the 
group had a wider distribution than at present. This bird was not larger than an 
emeu; but during the later portion of the Tertiary epoch Australia possessed some 
much larger species, which have been named Lromornis, and apparently indicate 
an extinct family, more or less closely allied to the present one. 
The Kiwis. 
Family Apterygidw. 
As the ostriches are the most specialised of the living members of the subclass,, 
so the kiwis of New Zealand may be regarded as those of its members which 
occupy the most generalised position in the group. The specialisation of the 
ostriches is shown, among other features, by the gigantic stature of those birds, by 
the reduction in the number of the toes, and in the total absence of any trace of a 
bony bridge at the lower end of the tibia. The kiwis, on the other hand, exhibit 
their more generalised nature by their comparatively small size,—it being obvious 
that if the Ratites are derived from flying-birds, the intermediate forms must have 
been small,—by the presence of four complete toes, and by remnants of the bony 
bridge at the lower end of the tibia. Whether the long beak of the kiwis is also a 
generalised feature may be doubtful. If these birds have any close affinity with 
the tinamus, it cannot be thus regarded; but if, as some think, they are allied to- 
the rails, then it may be looked upon in this light. The kiwis, then, differ from 
all the other living members of the subclass by their small size, the presence of 
four toes to the foot, and the long and slender beak. They are further- 
characterised by the females being much superior in size to the males; and also 
by the complete absence of after-shafts to the feathers; while the skeleton lacks 
any trace of the furcula. The bones of the wing—especialty the humerus— 
are very small and slender;. and externally the whole wing is completely 
concealed by the plumage of the back. In general appearance the entire plumage- 
is markedly hair-like, the individual feathers being pointed, and composed of 
separate filaments towards the end of the shaft, of which the basal half is< 
downy. In build, the kiwis are very robust, the thighs and legs being very 
muscular and strong, while the toes are furnished with strong claws. While in old 
birds the scales investing the metatarsus have overlapping edges, and form a 
perfectly smooth surface, in the young they are soft, detached, and reticulated.. 
