Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-26
QUEER BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND.
Some Funny Feathered Creatures Peculiar to
Strange Country.

Some Funny Feathered Creatures Peculiar to
q Strange Country.
SNEw ZEALAND Is A COUNTRY OF
~ queer BIRDS" said Mr.. F. A. Lucas of
the Smithsonian Institution to a STAR writer.
''For ages the islands have been so completely
isolated from the rest Of the world that their
fauna has become peculiar. The latter did not
include any mammals whatever save two small
species Of bats until the advent Of the Dutch.
OF the feathered creatures no less than ten
families are incapable Of flight. Presumably
the reason for this is that. in the absence of
predatory four-footed foes they had no occa-
sion to make use of their wings for the purpose
phied.
THE CURIOUS APrERYx.
perhaps the most peculiar Of these birds
which cannot fly is the spteryx,a relative Of the
moas-giant fowls weighing LOCO pounds
apiece when full grown-which became extinct
in New Zealand not much more than . century
ago, chiefly owing to a season Of unusual cold.
The apteryx itself il doomed, hunted - ii is
not only by man. but also by the carnivorous
attendants he brings with him, dogs and cats.
This bird lives in burrow, and, owing to its
hightlessness, is an easy prey to the hunter.
WITH A PECULIAR BILL
'The only known bird whose bill is bent side
wise belongs in New Zealand. 1t is the
crooked-billed plover, and although such a
structure seems at first sight to be malforma-
ton, yet the owner Of the beak finds it very
useful. The curved bill enables it to readily
turn over pebbles and to poke around them in
search Of food. 1t is also believed to have
something to do with corresponding pecul-
iarity Of plumage. In feeding the birds turn
naturally to the right thus exposing the left
side, which is marked less conspicuously and is
not SO likely to attract the attention Of enc
mics.
'In New Zealand also is found big species
Of rail called the weka. 1t cannot fly, not for
lack OF wings, but because the feathers are too
soft and yielding. However, it is an excellent
runner and trusts to its legs for getting away,
Like the jackdaw, the weka is a bird of thievish
propensities, stealing everything it can lay
beak on, even to such articles as pipes and
watches. Apparently it steals for the mere
love of the thing, neither hiding its booty, like
the jackdaw. nor using the objects stolen, like
the bower bird, to decorate its nest
THE HONEY EATERS
IA peculiar group of birds belonging to New
Zealand are the honey eaters, and the most
striking of them is the 'parson,' SO called from
its black coat and white tie Of curly feathers.
1t has surprising powers Of mimicry and is
most amusing when kept in q cage. From
time immemorial a cousin of the parsons,
known the bell bird, has been shared by the
natives, certain of its favorite resorts being
looked upon as tho exclusive property of the
tribe residing near by. Recently, in investigat-
ing the validity OF the title Of the aborigines to
land claimed by them, the sharing of the bell
birds by their ancestors has been brought for
ward in their behalf as evidence.
CURIOUS PARROTS.
MANY curious parrots are found in New
Zealand. One Of them, called the kea, is a
very bloodthirsty bird. Having acquired
taste for mutton during q cold and hungry
season, it has taken 10 killing sheep for the
purpose of devouring their kidneys. II IL only
in winter. however, that it follows this car
nivarous habit; during the warm months VI
the year it subsists on fruits and flowers.
Under the circumstances the farmers have
considered themselves warranted in doing
their best to destroy the keas, and the species
has been pretty nearly wiped out.
There are plenty more queer birds in New
Zealand One Of the sparrow kind is the only
known species in which the sexes are dis
tinguished by bills of entirely different shapes
The beak Of the male is stout. like woodpsck.
er's, while that of the female is slender aud
curved This difference in the shape OF the
bills leads to . difference in their use. The
male employs his besk, like woodpecker, to
chisel grubs out of decayed timber. while the
female carefully probes all holes where the sur.
rounding wood Il 30 hard a. TO defy the efforts
'Man and the animals he has introduced,
are rapidly destroying the avian fauna peculiar
to New Zealand. The Aightless birds wiz nat
urally be the first to vanish, because they are
most easily caught Dogs cats and rats i'm
ported from Europe are doing. their best 70
it will not be long before the islands lose for
ever the characteristic forms which render the
ornitholoey of that region 20 interesting"