Danny Wanicki, age 11, of White Plains, N.Y., for his question:

CAN THE KIWI FLY?

The kiwi, which is about the size of a domestic chicken, is a bird that is found wild only in the mountains and forests of New Zealand. It has only partly developed wings and no tail at all and it cannot fly.

The kiwi survives from some long distant past. Scientists say it is in an order with the ostriches but it was known until about 1850 when the first living one was brought to England. Since then it has been placed in many zoos but it does not thrive or multiply in captivity.

It is rarely seen in the wilds because it seeks food only at night. Its bill is long and curved and at the tip end of it are the nostrils. This enables the bird to smell out and then dig out its favorite food, earthworms.

The kiwi is dark reddish brown and the female is slightly larger than the male. The female lays only one or, at times, two eggs a year. These are very large, measuring from three to five inches. The male then sits on the egg or eggs.

When hatched, the small kiwi is fully featured and able almost immediately to run about and take care of itself.