. Natural history. Zoology. CARINATE BIRDS—ORDER TINAMIFORMES—THE TINAMOUS. 225 observations on the ways of the kiwis in a state of nature are singularly- deficient, and it is to be feared that the members of the genus Apteryx will disappear from the face of the globe without their life-history being thoroughly recorded. The eggs, judging from those laid in captivity, never appear to exceed two in number, and they are incubated in true Struthious manner by the male. Those which have been kept in our zoological gardens in this country have been seldom seen in daylight, as they go to sleep all t
. Natural history. Zoology. CARINATE BIRDS—ORDER TINAMIFORMES—THE TINAMOUS. 225 observations on the ways of the kiwis in a state of nature are singularly- deficient, and it is to be feared that the members of the genus Apteryx will disappear from the face of the globe without their life-history being thoroughly recorded. The eggs, judging from those laid in captivity, never appear to exceed two in number, and they are incubated in true Struthious manner by the male. Those which have been kept in our zoological gardens in this country have been seldom seen in daylight, as they go to sleep all the day and conceal themselves in the straw of their dens. When taken out, they run round in a dazed manner, and quickly return to their concealment. It is even said that when poked with sticks they will not rouse themselves, and quickly go to sleep again. An extinct form of Apteryx has been discovered in New Zealand {Fseudapteryx, Lydekker). All the rest of the birds belong to the order Ciirinat(e, or birds with a keeled sternum. Thus they ought to be all capable of flight, but as a matter of fact there are many Carinate Birds. exceptions, and there are not a, few which have lost this power. The vast majority, however, have a deep keel or ridge to the breast-bone, which distinguishes them from the Eatitce, of which we have just spoken. The nearest allies to the Apteryges, in a natural series, would be, in our opinion,the rails (iiaHtti!ce),but we are bound to take notice of the curious partridges of South America, the tinamous, because they possess a remarkable palate, the bones of which are very like those of the Struthious Birds, and hence wo commence our study of the Ares Carinahe with the order Tinami- formes. In general appearance they resemble partridges, and they have much the habits of the latter birds, excepting the ® f?ri™ " ' fact, that many of them are inhabitants of the forests, where- Tinamiformes as the partridges are, essentially birds of the open co
Size: 1383px × 1807px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorly, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
