Maori name for a wingless struthiousbird of New Zealand, the Apteryx (q.v.), so called fromthe note of the bird. The species are – – Large Grey Kiwi (Roa roa, generally shortened to Roa,q.v.) – – Apteryx haastii, Potts.
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See Buller, `Birds of New Zealand' (1888), vol. ii. p. 308.
1835. W. Yate, `Account of New Zealand,' p. 58:
«Kiwi – – the most remarkable and curious bird in New Zealand.»
1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. vi. pl. 2:
« Apteryx Australis, Shaw, Kiwi kiwi.»
[Australis here equals Southern, not Australian.]
1867. F. Hochstetter, `New Zealand,' p. 181:
«The Kiwi, however, is only the last and rather insignificantrepresentative of the family of wingless birds that inhabitedNew Zealand in bygone ages.»
1872. A. Domett, `Ranolf,' p. 232:
«'Twas nothing but that wing-less, tail-less bird,
The kiwi.»
1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' p. 35:
«The fact that one collector alone had killed and disposedof above 2000 specimens of the harmless kiwi.»
1889. Professor Parker, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,'p. 116:
«The Kiwi, although flightless, has a small but well-formedwing, provided with wing quills.»