KIWI, ktvw6 (Maori name, and in native speech usually doubled, kiz•i-king, in imitation of the bird's repetitive notes). One of the small. wingless, archaic birds of New Zealand compos ing the genus Apteryx, which is considered by sonic a family (Apterygidw) or as an ordinal group (Apteryges) of the subclass Itatitm (q.v.), and by others only a genus of an order (Alegi stain's), which includes the moas, emery, and cassowaries. This strange bird, widely known as the 'apteryx' since its first description by Shaw in 1813, was a puzzle to ornithologists the at-cumulation of ow terial enabled l'arrell in 183:t definitely to assign it to its proper place, and led Owen to investigate its anatomy so completely that (supplemented by Parker's later studies) the structure of few birds is even now more thoroughly known. l'p to that time few had been seen alive by naturalists or voyagers, and it was not until 1847 that two :species became known, and in 1850 a third. In 1851 the tirst living specimen reached England, and since then several others have been kept alive for long periods in zoitlegical gardens, and have even laid eggs. but, these have not hatched. In 1872 a complete ac count of the bird was furnished by Sir W. 13uller, the ornithologist of New Zealand. This fullness of knowledge is very fortunate, for this bird, so highly interesting as a relic of past times and an obsolete fauna ( see .11o.t). is on the verge of extinction. three species are now recognized: The kiwi of the Southern Island of NVW Zen land (ipteryx A ustralls) : that of the North Island (.1pieryx Montan); and a third very different one (Apie•yx said to occur in both isl ands. A fourth species (.1ptcryix Haasti) been described (ibis, London, 1872), but it is of uneerta in identity.
The kiwis are about the size of domestic fowls, and are robust in form, with massive legs and feet, having a short hind toe (not present in other existing Ratilw), no visible wings or tail, a very long, down-curved flexible bill, with the nostrils at the extreme end. and a covering of loosely vaned, almost hair-like feathers, which have no aftershaft. The southern and northern kiwis are dark reddish brown, striped lengthwise with yellowish brown. but Owen's kiwi, which is much smaller than the others, is light grayish brown transversely barred with black. Fossilized
species are also known (ruin remains found in company with the bones of moas. The females are about omw-sixth larger than the males, a fact connected with their extraordinary reproduction, for the female lays only one yellowish-white egg (or uncommonly two) annually, which is gigan tic in proportion to the size of the bird. that Of Ile North Island species measuring 5 by 3 inches. or nearly a quarter the bulk of the mother's hotly. This is deposited in a depression in the ground, and is incubated wholly by the the young one when hatched is well grown. well and able to take sae of itself.
These birds are natives of the mountainous foe led parts of New Zealand; they are entirely nocturnal in their habits, and doze inertly in the daytime, in a rolled•up attitude. Tn former days. when they were numerous. they went about in small companies, and toward morning the woods with their shrill cries. The loss of flight power is compensated by great strength of the feet (the sharp claws of the toes are good weapons), and thou run swiftly. Their food eon sists mainly of earthworms. whieh are obtained by plunging the bill deeply into the ground. the location of the worm having been detected. prob ably. by the sense of smell aided by that of touch. The nostrils differ from those of all other birds in being at the extremity of the upper man dible, and the bird makes a continual sniffling sound as it moves about. Other insects and some fruits are also eaten. The common statement that when quiet the kiwi sustains its weight by resting upon the point of the bill is an exaggera• tion ; this attitude is rarely taken. Their num bers are greatly decreased, and these birds will soon become extinct, no doubt, as a wild species.
Consult Newton, Dictionary of Birds (Lon don and New York, 1893-96). for a general his tory of investigations. For anatomy, consult: Owen, Transactions of the Zoological Society, vol. ii. (London. 1846) ; Parker, Transactions of the Philosophical Society (London, 1891, 1892). For habits, consult Buller, Birds of Neu, Zealand (2d ed., London, 188:4), and various articles in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. Sea Plate of CASSOWARIES, ETC.