NORTH ISLAND KIWI. (Apterix Mantelli.)

Forest and Bird, Issue 38, 1 November 1935, Page 2

NORTH ISLAND KIWI. (Apterix Mantelli.)

Kiwis are different from all other birds in that they have no tails, only the merest traces of wings, and the nostrils placed near the tip of the bill instead of near the base. Then, no other bird lays an egg so large in proportion to its size. In spite of the absence of flight the kiwi, in primeval New Zealand, had no difficulty in obtaining a living, because it made full use of its wonderful bill and feet. In some measure it is compensated for the lack of wings by speed on foot. It can move in the darkness, too, as silently as a rat, aided no doubt in finding its way by the long hair-like feathers near the base of the bill. It usually hides in the daytime in a burrow or in a hole beneath the roots of a tree or in a hollow log, and it is then that it may fall a victim to dogs which would have little chance of catching it at night. Once dusk falls it moves freely about, uttering the shrill call which has given it the name kiwi. The tip of the bill, in addition to bearing the nostrils, is very sensitive to touch, and a combination of smell artd touch seems to be used for locating food. As it rambles through the dense beds of fern, making the while a continual snuffling sound, it uses the strongly clawed feet to scratch away litter. The long flexible bill is then driven into the soft ground or rotten log to search for worm or grub. In extracting a worm from the soil it displays much intelligence and ingenuity. “The hunt opened with the usual tapping with the bill,” wrote one observer. “When by this means the bird discovered the burrow of a worm it set to work at once to enlarge the opening, using its bill as a workman uses a crowbar. When it had formed a funnel-like depression, it inserted its bill and took hold of the worm. With a steady pull it often succeeded in bringing the victim to the surface. When it was not able to do so, it ceased pulling, as continuing to do so would have re-

suited in tearing the worm and losing the greater part; so, leaning well back, it remained in the same position, waiting without the faintest movement of any part of its body, until the worm, tired out by its exertion, momentarily relaxed its hold. Then, with another steady pull, the worm was drawn out of its burrow.” Other food consists of snails, insects, and berries picked from various low shrubs or from the ground. The nest is found in holes in banks or beneath the roots of large trees. Little is known about the breeding habits, but usually, one egg is laid, occasionally two, and very rarely three. It would appear that, like its South Island relative, the male carries out the duties of incubation. The chicks are covered with soft, fluffy, dark brown plumage. As the world has no more remarkable bird, it should be rigidly protected because of its scientific uniqueness alone. But, in addition, it is one of the most important members of the police force of the forest floor to which the weka, robin, and tomtit also belong. In addition to spreading the seeds of trees by eating berries, it eats injurious insects, many of them the grubs of borer beetles which would otherwise develop into destroyers of timber. It is all the more unfortunate, then, that the North Island kiwi should have so suffered from the effects of civilisation with its dogs, stoats, and opossum traps that it is now mainly confined to more extensive forest areas north of 40 degrees latitude. Still, it is occasionally reported near our larger towns, showing that with proper protection there is no reason why it should become extihct. .