The Emu (1901) The Emu emu22aust Year: 1901 Vol. XXII. , .Vo/^.s- on flic Ki Ml search by la[){)inij. The young hird could ne\er be teni[)ted to take its food in this manner. Tn searching for earth-worms they showed a consideral)le de gree of ingenuity. The Imnt opened with the usual ta])i)ing. When by this means the bird discovered the burrow of one of these worms it set to work at once enlarging the opening, using its bill as a workman uses his crowbar. When it had formed a funnel-like depression, it its bill and took a good hold of the worm. With a steady ])ull it
The Emu (1901) The Emu emu22aust Year: 1901 Vol. XXII. , .Vo/^.s- on flic Ki Ml search by la[){)inij. The young hird could ne\er be teni[)ted to take its food in this manner. Tn searching for earth-worms they showed a consideral)le de gree of ingenuity. The Imnt opened with the usual ta])i)ing. When by this means the bird discovered the burrow of one of these worms it set to work at once enlarging the opening, using its bill as a workman uses his crowbar. When it had formed a funnel-like depression, it its bill and took a good hold of the worm. With a steady ])ull it often succeeded in bringing its victim to the surface. When it was not able to do so, it pulling, as continuing to do so would have resulted in tearing the worm and losing the greater part, and leaning well back re- mained in the same position, waiting, without the faintest move- ment of any part of its body, until the worm, tired out by its A Kiwi taking a steady pull at a Worm exertion, momentarily relaxed its hold. Then with another steady pull generally drew it out of its burrow. When this .second attempt failed, it would repeat the same performance until the worm was finally dislodged. It was only when searching for food under the thick clumps of grass or under heaps of dead leaves that the process of tapping was modified or altogether dispensed with. In this case the birds followed the more familiar habits of Ducks. Kiwis are blessed with a remarkably healthy appetite. The (juantity of food which they could dispose of at one meal was truly astonishing, yet after a short time they were ready for an- other feast. Once firmly held the food was conveyed to the ali- mentary apparatus by means of a succession of peculiar jerks, neck and bill being held almost horizontally during the process. Even very large pieces of meat were easily and quickly de- spatched in this manner. As the old bird showed a great dislike for the wire netting, 1
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