NATIVE BIRDS 203 
of the bush. During the day they repose in the forests, 
living beneath the long sedgy grass, or hiding in the 
hollows at the bases of lofty trees. At night, however, 
they leave their retreats and range about in search of food, 
which consists chiefly of worms and insects. 
Characteristics and what they teach. A con- 
sideration of some of the peculiarities presented by the 
Kiwi are interesting as throwing light on the past 
history of the bird, and furnishing evidence of how the 
use or disuse of organs leads to their development. or 
extinction. 
The largeness of the egg is out of all proportion to the 
size of the bird, a fact which clearly indicates that the 
ancestors of the Kiwi whoever they were, were much larger 
in size than their present day representatives. 
The remarkable fore-limbs were undoubtedly at one 
time true wings, bearing the feathers necessary for flight. 
In this connection it may be mentioned that a sleeping 
Kiwi assumes precisely the same attitude as an ordinary 
flyer, the head being thrust under the side feathers, 
between the body and the upwardly directed elbow; as 
though in former times the wings were made use of to 
cover the head and beak. There have been only two 
indigenous land mammals found in New Zealand, a Rat and 
a Bat, neither of which preyed on the Kiwi. The bird in 
fact led a life which in ancient times was particularly free - 
from the attacks of dangerous enemies. There was little 
or no necessity for flight, so that the wings were gradually 
lost and became vestigial, from want of usage. 
The eye of the Kiwi is small; this is surprising, for 
most nocturnal animals have large eyes suited for taking 
the utmost advantage of the semi-darkness. The Kiwi 
however finds its prey mainly if not entirely by scent, and 
has developed in consequence an extraordinarily perfect 
