70 
NATURE STUDY NOTES 
ing the hatching period. It defends itself by kick¬ 
ing with one of its strong legs, at the same time 
opening wide its long bill, whilst balancing its body 
on the other leg, with its back against some firm 
support. (See illustration on cover.) When dis¬ 
turbed, it assumes a perfectly motionless position, 
and will remain thus for a long time, if not 
molested. It has a strong sense of smell, and can 
be heard “sniffing” when in search of food. It taps 
the ground with the tip of its beak, until it strikes 
a worm-hole in the ground, which it then widens 
by a twisting movement of its “bill,” thus enabling 
it to reach the worm and drag it out more easilv. 
It hides all day under large logs or in holes in trees 
coming out to feed at dusk. As soon as the young 
Kiwi is a few days old, it begins “to fend for itself,” 
and the parent birds show no further interest in it. 
t he Pukeko and the Kiwi make an appropriate com¬ 
bination for a lesson on bird contrasts—each is the 
opposite of the other in almost every detail of con¬ 
struction and habits. 
THE BUSH HAWK 
SONG—A shrill scream whilst in flight—not fre¬ 
quent. 
DESCRIPTION—Also called the “Sparrow- 
I awk. Head and upper parts, greyish black. 
Under parts, pale reddish brown. Breast, lffiht 
bi-OAvn, but each feather is edged with a triangular 
ck mark. Feet, yellow with black claws. Eyes, 
yellow. (See p. 59.) 
birds ’ youn §’ rabbits, rats and mice; 
so read rabbits (killed by motor-cars or gun). 
