Pir A CUCULLATA, aru.

Hooded Pitta.

Pitta cucullata, Hartl. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1833, p. 65.—Gray, Gen. B. i
Mica. Ep. 1o7 (1849).—Moore, P. Z. 8. 1854, p.
li. p. 399 (1856).—Cass. U.S. Expl. Exp. Birds,
Gray, Hand-l. B. p. 295 (1869),

—— nigricollis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xii. p. 960 (1843).

—— rhodogaster, Hodgs. J. A. S. B. xii. p. 961 (1843).

—— malaccensis, MUll. & Schleg. Verh. Natuurl. Gesch. Zool. p- 19 (1844).

— coronata, Peale, U.S. Expl. Exp. Birds, p. 891 (1848).

Brachyurus cucullatus, Bp
F. 1875, p. 109.

- p. 213 (1846).—Blyth, Cat. B.
274.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. ELI. Co.
p. 437 (1858).—Jerd. B. Ind. i. p- 504 (1862).—

. Consp. i. p. 255 (1850).—Elliot, Monogr. Pittide, pl. xxviii. (1863).—Hume, Str.

Melanopitta cucullata, Bp. Consp. Volucr. Anis. p- 7 (1854).—Hume, S. F. 1874, p. 475.—Id. Nests & Eggs
Ind. B. p. 225 (1875). =

 

Tue close connexion which exists between the avifauna of the Eastern Himalayas and that of the Malayan
peninsula is illustrated by the occurrence of several peculiar forms; but by none is the fact better exem-
plified than by the subject of the present article. Its range extends from Nepal and Sikhim, through
Assam, Burmah, and Tenasserim to the Malayan peninsula; and specimens from all these localities are
identical.

The following observation is extracted from Mr. Hume’s ‘ Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds ’—

‘* According to Mr. Hodgson’s notes and drawings, the Hooded Pitta breeds in the central regions of
Nepal and about Darjeeling in April and May. ‘They build a large globular nest, one of which measured
nearly 6°75 inches externally, and had a circular opening, fully 3 inches in diameter, on one side. They
place their nests, very generally on the ground, in clumps of bamboos; and they construct them of dry
bamboo leaves and twigs, and stems of plants, firmly and compactly interwoven. The exterior is rough and
strong; the interior lined with soft vegetable fibres. They lay four eggs, very broad oval, glossy, with a
pinky white ground, pretty thickly spotted all over with reddish and brownish purple ; an egg figured
measures 0°96 by 0:79 inch.”

Dr. Jerdon says :—‘‘I only procured one specimen, which was killed by a Lepcha when seated on her
nest on the banks of the great Rungit river, about 1200 feet above the sea. The nest was composed
chiefly of roots and other fibrous matter, with a few hairs, and contained three eggs of a faint greenish
white, with a few reddish and some fawn-coloured spots.”

Mr. Oates has found the species in Upper Pegu; and Mr. Hume writes as follows with respect ee ee

‘“« Pegu specimens are absolutely identical with many others that I have from Sikhim, ae the bird is
very common. Blyth apparently considers (Ibis, 1866, p. 74) that our Indian bird is distinct from ie
Malaccan one, and should stand under his name nigricolis ; as far south as Tavoy, at any Se all a of
one and the same species. Mr. Oates correctly points out (as I have previously poticed) that, i describing
this species, both Dr. Jerdon (B. of Ind. i. p. 505) and Mr. Elliot (Ibis, Lent p- au ont the con-
spicuous black patch, which on the centre of the lower abdomen surmounts the rich vermilion of the lower
ventral region.”

Mr. Oates remarks :—‘“‘I met w
procured several specimens. I searched many pr

ith this bird in one ravine only in the evergreen forests, where I
ecisely similar localities, but never again met with it.
Two pairs that I measured varied as follows :—
re Ez se ay eA “BD ? oO
“ Length 7:3 to 7°05, expanse 13°5 to 14:5, tail from vent 1°55 to 1°65, wing
gape 1-05 to 1-08, tarsus 1°6 to 1:7.
“The bill was black; the inside of the mouth dusky
. ° aS k re 9
plumbeous-fleshy ; legs fleshy pink; claws pinkish horny.
. ; Z . ° ° GIN a airy aa erst °
Mr. Davison has also met with the species In Tenasserim, at Amhe : ae
Bera eT | “0 ] Ir atalogue.
Dr. Cantor in Malacca are recorded by Messrs. Horsfield and oe in theu | Je : a —..
I hes rOv “es, eyebrows, sides OF Iace, 5 ak
Body green above; head light chestnut-brown, the lores, ey ;

sr tail-cove ich cobalt ; least wing-coverts
well as the hind part of the latter and throat, black ; upper tail-coverts rich alte eS
under surface of body green; on the upper abdome

4:25 to 4:5, bill from
fleshy; irides dark coffee-brown ; eyelids pale

and two examples procured by

rich cobalt ; primaries with a broad band of white ;
a black patch ; the lower abdomen and under tail-coverts
The figures in the Plate are of the natural size, drawn fr

scarlet; thighs brown.
om specimens in my own collection.

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