Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-04-12
No Z
SOME WiNGlESS BIRDS.
Most Curious Of the Lot Is Apteryx, a
Native of New Zealand.

There exist all grades in the spread
of wings between that of the condor,
which is four times the length of the
body, whereby the bird is able to rise
to the height of nearly 25,0OO feet, and
the little winglets of the aux, which
are OF no use to it. The penguins have
still smaller wings. which are nothing
more than short, fattened stumps.
without proper feathers and covered
with fine. hair-like down, which
might be taken for scales. Another
group of birds exists, called approprl-
ately brevpcnnes, the wings Of which
are so poorly developed as to be who'll
ly unsuited for fight. Among them are
some gigantic birds, and also some
that have no visible wings on the out
side of their bodies, and may, there
fore. be properly called winglcss. The
ostrich is a member of this group.
With its bare, callous head and short
bill, its long, featherless neck and its
massive body, supported by long, half
bare legs, ended in two large toes; its
very short wings formed of soft and
flexible feathers, and its plume shaped
tail. it presents a very special appear
ance among birds. The nandous, the
AIltl IVAN VI lllC w.
trich, have still shorter wings, which
have no remigia at all, and terminate
in a horny appcndage, and they have
no tail feathers.
The cassowary and the emeu also re-
semble the ostrich in many points, but
their wings are still more reduced
than those of the nandou. They are
only slightly distinct, and cannot be
,;,,I II, al
up to its body. In the apteryX, the
name of which from the Greek, means
without wings. the organs of flight are
hardly apparent, and consist simply Of
very short stump bearing a thick
and hooked nail. The apteryX, which
is also called kiwi, Il native of New
Zealand, is the most singular of living
birds. The neck and the body are c"N-
tinuouS, and the moderately sized
head is furnished with a long bcak re-
sembling the ibis. Having long
hairs similar to the muStaches of cats
at it's base. it is different from the
bills of all other existing birds in pos
seSsinS nostrils that open at its upper
point Although the aptcryX cannot
fly, it runs very fast, despite the short
ness Of its legs, and can defend itself
very CHectNelN against aSSallautS ny
the aid of its long nailed and sharp
nailed feet. The tail is absent, like
the wings. The very plant feathers
are extremely curious. loose, silky,
with jagged barbs, and increase in
length as they 90 back from the neck.
The bird is of the size of a fowl, and
when in its normal position stands
with its body almost vertical and car
ries the suggestion of Il caricature-re-
sembling, we might say, IL ftathercd
sack, with only n long-billcd head and
claws projecting, and one bcholdiDg it
feels that he is looking at some uniin-
ishcd creature. 1t is nocturnal bird,
of fierce temper, ana has become rare
in consequence of the mercirss war;
that is made upon it. Everything is
strange about it, even the single egg
it lays, which weighs about quarter
as much as its body. Together with
the apteryx, there once lived in New
Zealand a bird that reached the height
of nearly twelve feet, the dinornis.-
Appieton's Popular Science Monthly.