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PITTA CASRUL EKA,
Cerulean Pitta.

Mytothera caerulea, Raffles, Transactions of the Linnean Society, xiii. p. 301 (1821).

Pitta gigas, Temminck, Pl. Col. 217 (1823).—Lesson, Traité d’Orn. p. 394 (1831).—Miill. & Schlee. Verh. Nat

Gesch. fol. Zool. Pitta, p. 14 (1839-44), pe

Pitta cerulea, Vigors, Memoir of Rafts, App. p. 659 (1830).—Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 213 (1846).—Blyth, Cat. B
Mus. A.S. B. p. 156 (1849).—Moore, P. Z. 8. 1854, p. 273.—Horsfield & Moore, Cat. Birie Me. al
Co, i. p. 181 (1854).—Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. Indie, Pitta, D2 pl tos Eon Cison) ia eo
Pays-Bas, Pitta, p. 1 (1863).—Wall. Ibis, 1864, p. 108.

Brachyurus ceruleus, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng, xvi. p. 153 (1847).—Bp. Consp
Monogr. Pittide, pl. i. (1863).—Id. Ibis, 1870, p. 412, |

Gigantipitta cerulea, Bonap. Consp. Volucr. Anisod. p. 7 (1854),

. p. 253 (1850).—Elliot,

 

As far as our knowledge extends, the present species is really much the largest of this interesting group of
birds, and is distinguished from most of its congeners by another distinct character, the decided differences
in the sexes as regards colour. Whilst admitting also that it is the giant of the group, and that its distinctions
are very marked, I will give the pith of what has been written respecting it. Mr. Elliot has placed it first in
the plates of his ‘Monograph,’ and has given two illustrations of male, female, and young, and then goes on to
say :—‘‘ The Pittas, although one of the most beautiful as regards richness and variety of plumage, are
among the least known of the many families of birds. Inhabiting places and countries trodden in many
cases only by the adventurous foot of the explorer, and being of quiet, unobtrusive habits, these beautiful
denizens of the woods and plains have escaped notice (in some species until very lately), even from the eager
eyes of the enthusiastic student of nature. Of the well-known species, examples are not often to be met
with, and then but seldom out of the large and magnificent ornithological collections contained in different
national museums.

«Former writers, when treating of this group, seem to have little or nothing to relate regarding their
economy or habits, and confine themselves principally to scientific nomenclature, and even later authors have
as yet thrown but little light upon them. Still no one can look upon these beautiful creatures with indif-
ference ; and although what has now been gathered may be but little, yet I shall deem myself amply repaid
if any thine shall have been added to our knowledge of this interesting group.

- The present species is one of the handsomest ; and it gives me much pleasure to be able (through the
kindness of M. le Dr. Pucheran, who allowed the specimen to be removed from the case in the museum of
the Jardin des Plantes) to give so good a representation of the Cerulean Pitta in its native Nemo. Its
habits are similar to those of the Thrushes, hopping about among the bushes and over the ground in search
of its food, which consists principally of insects. .

‘Messrs. Miiller and Schlegel, in the Verhand. Natuur. Geschied. (a work written 1n the Dutch language,
the sense of which I have endeavoured to give as literally as possible), say :—‘ M. Temminck mies the first
to describe this bird in his “‘“Planches Coloriées,” and there gave the figure of a very ol rotieudlne) and
1834, in Sumatra, not far from the base of the mountain Singalang, in a
hick undergrowth, we saw a young male. He was

writes :—‘‘ In the month of June,
dark, retired valley, which was entirely covered with a ¢
sitting on the dead branch of a low tree, and was not in the least shy 5 eo ene
peculiar softness of his feathers showed that he had not yet attained his first moult ae or tue
which adorns the older birds was in this specimen entirely wanting, with the exception of a slight indication

on the tail. Those portions which in the adults assume the blue livery pei:
s. which are of a deep yellow colour, were with
s, )

= . yy
yellowish white and blackish brown. The

the mellow reddish mouth and the

were with him of a dark yellowish

brown, still darker towards the Wings ; and the lower part ;
i i i 7aras f 1x with
this young bird dirty yellow, towards the breast mixed ee
istri “¢ i serv é . the feathers of the head and shoulders; the yello ; s

same distribution of colours 1s observed among the reathe . eae
| | 5 vats 7 > Ss
of the head, with a rose-coloured tint near the throat. The bill, whic S

>’

much clearer towards the sides , oe
and of the colour of horn. The black colour was

black in the adult, was in this one almost transparent

ee heli sye was clearly observable.
entirely wanting, but the black line behind the eye was clearly

meme

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