[Grk. 'a privative and pterux, a wing.] A New Zealand bird about the size ofa domestic fowl, with merely rudimentary wings.See Kiwi.
1813. G. Shaw, `Naturalist's Miscellany.' c. xxiv. p. 1058(`O.E.D.'):
«The Southern Apteryx.»
1848. W. Westgarth, `Australia Felix,' p. 137:
«The present Apterix or wingless bird of that country (New Zealand).»
1851. `Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of VanDiemen's Land,' vol. i. p. 300 [Letter from Rev. W. Colenso,Waitangi, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, Sept. 4, 1850:
«You enquire after an Apteryx. How delighted should Ibe to succeed in getting you one. Three years ago Owenexpressed a similar wish, and I have repeatedly tried, butfailed. Yet here they still are in the mountain forests,though, doubtless, fast hastening towards extinction. I sawone in its wild state two years ago in the dense woods of theinterior; I saw it clearly. . . . Two living specimens werelately taken by the Acheron, steamer, to Sydney, where theydied; these were obtained at the Bay of Islands, where also Ionce got three at one time. Since then I have not been able toobtain another, although I have offered a great price for one.The fact is, the younger natives do not know how to take them,and the elder ones having but few wants, and those fullysupplied, do not care to do so. Further, they can only becaptured by night, and the dog must be well trained to be ofservice.»
1874. F. P. Cobbe, in `Littell's Age,' Nov. 7, p. 355(`Standard'):
«We have clipped the wings of Fancy as close as if she werean Apteryx.'