Kiwis: A Monograph of the Family Apterygidae

Near fine hardcover in rubbed dust jacket. First Edition.

With 24 color plates and 15 black-and-white drawings by Ray Harris-Ching, plus historical paintings, photographs, and maps.

This is a definitive work on a family of birds at once so familiar and yet little known. Only on the islands of New Zealand are these ancient and curious birds found, and this book brings together much that has been learned since their earliest sightings to the present time.

The authors are eminently suited to this task, and the series of paintings and drawings by Ray Harris-Ching reveal kiwis in original and unexpected ways.

The book is founded on an enormous amount of research and field trips, and describes in detail the way of life, habitats, and visual characteristics of kiwis, as well as offering a history of the bird's importance to the Maori and its place as a symbol of great affection in the hearts of New Zealanders.

Altogether, some 75 illustrations add immeasurably to this instructive and beautiful book.