344 
Birds. 
THE APTEEYX. ( Apteryx Australia.) 
This curious bird, which has the shortest wings of any 
member of its class, is found only in New Zealand, where 
it is called Kivi-Kivi by the natives, in imitation of its 
cry. It is smaller than any of the species of wingless 
birds just described, and its legs are short and stout ; it 
has three strong front toes on each foot, and a short 
hinder toe armed with a very strong claw. The body of 
the Apteryx is something like that of the cassowary in 
its form; the neck is rather long, and, like the head, 
clothed with feathers ; but the most singular part of the 
bird is its bill, which is long, rather slender, and slightly 
curved, and has the nostrils situated quite at its tip. This 
curious structure of the bill is intended to enable the 
bird more readily to obtain the worms and insects upon 
which it feeds, and which it drags out of their holes in 
the ground. It runs quickly, but only at night, and 
when in motion it might easily be mistaken for a small 
dusky -brown quadruped. The plumage resembles that 
of the emeu in its texture, and the skins are highly 
esteemed by the New Zealanders, who use them for 
making cloaks. 
Among the many curious characteristics of this bird 
is its habit of leaning, when at rest, upon the tip of its 
long bill. When hunted it scrapes a hole in the sand 
with its powerful feet, in which it hides ; or it runs into 
some natural cavity, if there is any near, where access 
is difficult for its pursuers, and often makes a valiant 
defence. 
