KAGOSHIMA, ka-go'sht--ma (Japanese 'Bas ket Island'). The chief city of the Province of Satsuma, in the island of Kiushiu. Japan, and the seat of the Government of the ken or pre fecture of the same name, which includes the provinces of Satsuma. Osumi. and Hiuga (Map: Japan, B 8). It was formerly the seat of the feudal barons of the Shimadzu family, one of the most powerful in the country. Kagoshima lies on the northwesterly side of a deep inlet of the same name. The town itself covers considerable ground, has wide, clean, well-kept streets, and includes among its most important industries the manufacture of cttton, silk, pottery, and glass, and exports rice. tea. camphor. and cedarwood. On the shore and forming a kind of suburb is Tan oura, where the famous crackled Satsuma ware— a kind of faience—is made. On August 15. 1863, Kagoshima was bombarded and burned by a Brit ish squadron as punishment for the murder by military retainers of Shimadzu Saburo of Satsu ma of H. L. Richardson. an Englishman. in Sep tember of the preceding year, both the Shogun's Government and the daimio having failed to pun ish the murderers or give any satisfaction. It was here also that the great Satsuma Rebellion. under Field-Marshal Saigo Takamori, broke out in 1877. The city was promptly taken by the Im perial troops, recaptured by the insurgents some months later, and finally captured by the im perialists September 24, Saigo and the rebel leaders being defeated with great slaughter and the rebellion crushed. Population. in 1898, 53,481.
KAGU. (native name). A remarkable bird (Rhinochetus jubatus) peculiar to the is land of New Caledonia. It is gray above, paler below. with black markings on the wings and tail. The head carries a long crest, and the bill is bright red. It was formerly found all over tne island. but is now confined to the more unfrequented parts. where it lives in the moun tainous ravines and hides in boles and under stones. It is often kept in captivity in the East, in parks and zo?Ilogical gardens. It is nocturnal and feeds on snails and other mollusks. insects, and the like. It resembles a rail in its general form. but is more like a heron in some of its habits. In its internal anatomy it shows so many and such peculiarities that its relation to other birds is still a matter of doubt. Its nearest relatives would seem to he the sun-hitterns of South Amerien, with which it is usually asso ciated in the same order with cranes. (See New ton. Dietionaru of girds. New York and London, 1893-96.) This resemblance is heightened by the fact that, like the sun-bittern, the kagu in courtship or in moments of excitement will execute a variety of violent gesticulations and dance about, displaying the otherwise concealed spottings on its wing-quills, spreading its wings and tail, and even bolding the tail or the tip of a wing in its bill. as if to make it more con spicuous. Nothing is known as to its breeding habits, nest, or eggs. See Plate of BUSTARDS.