TEMPERATURE OF BIRDS 
is that the fishlets mistook the waving feathers of the 
bird for water-weed, and nestling there fell a prey to 
their deception. 
THE Kiwi or APTERYX 
The peaceful kiwi gave rise some years ago to a 
rather warm controversy between the leaders of zoolo- 
gical opinion. To Sir Richard Owen it appeared to 
be the long wanted link between the equally warm 
blooded mammals and birds, which that anatomist 
bracketed together in the series on account chiefly of 
the warmth of their blood. The slightly higher tem- 
perature of the blood in birds was thought by him, and 
so far naturally, to be less of a bar to their association 
with mammals, than the pure cold-bloodedness of 
the sullen reptile, to an association with the birds. 
' Professor Huxley, however, insisted upon the close 
alliance of birds and reptiles and plainly showed that 
certain supposed resemblances between the apteryx 
and the mammal in the midriff or diaphragm had no 
real existence, and that the apteryx was typically 
ornithic. Now a middle position between these two 
extremes is held. We do not consider the bird as in any 
way near to the mammals ; but we consider them to be 
quite remote from the reptiles and not to be placed 
with them in one great group. Nevertheless, we admit 
a closer position to reptiles than to mammals. The 
apteryx is one of those birds which it will be difficult 
for the visitor to get a peep at. It is quite nocturnal 
in habit, and snuggles down during the day in such 
retirement as is provided for it. At night it sallies 
forth, and in New Zealand, where it alone occurs, 
devotes itself to extracting earthworms from the soil. 
With great deliberation does it drag these wriggling 
creatures from their holes, as if realizing that earth- 
worms like beefsteak thrust into the pocket must “ be 
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