HATCHING A KIWI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 726, 27 July 1929, Page 10

HATCHING A KIWI

Sir, — I notice that it was claimed recently a kiwi placed on exhibition in Auckland had been captured at Kawakawa. That is scarcely correct, for I saw the bird as soon as it was hatched. In the summer of 1928 Mr. P. Wynyard uncovered a kiwi’s egg,

which he carried to Kawakawa presenting it to Mrs. D. Penny, of the Junction HoteL Mrs. Penny is a collector ■who has given many interesting things to the Auckland Museum. It was her husband who went to Waiomio and dug out the canoe recently sent South. It was intended that the egg should be blown. Mrs. Penny carried it out to her verandah to perform this operation the day following the gift of the egg, but, hearing movements within the shell, she exclaimed that a live kiwi chick was in it. There was a fruitless search for a brooding hen. Finally the egg was placed by Mr. Wilson, postmaster at Kawakawa, on a rack over his kitchen range, and the young kiwi soon began to peck at his (or her) shell. Since then the bird has been tended by Mr. Wilson, and has thrived well. For a wild bird, it is the most fascinating and trusting little fellow. C. T. PHILLIPS.