PITT A GR ANATI N A, Temm.

Bornean Pitta.

Pitta granatina, Verm. Pl. Col. 506.—Lesson, Traité d’Orn. p. 395.—Miill. & Schl. Verh. Nat. Gesch. Zool
Pitta, pp. 10, 15, 20.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, i. p. 213.—Blyth, Journ. Asiatic Soc. Bene. xv

ae is JD. B2O—=
Id. Cat. Birds Mus. Asiatic Soc. Beng. p.157.—Schlegel, Mus. Pa |

hg : ys-Bas, Pitta, p. 5.—Id. Vog. Nederl.
Indie, pp. 20, 35, pl. 5. fig. 3.—Wallace, Ibis, 1864, p. 107.—Salvad. Ucc. Born. p- 249.—Schleeel,
Mus. Pays-Bas, Revue Pitta, p. 9.

Brachyurus granatinus, Bonap. Consp. Av. i. p. 255.—Elliot, Monogr. Pittide, pl. xv.

Erythropsitta granatina, Bonap. Consp. Volucr. Anis. p. 7 (pt.).—Walden, Ibis, 1872, Deesvae

Pheenicocichla granatina, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. ii. p. 5 (pt.).

Pitta (Phenicocichla) granatina, Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 296 (pt.).

Brachyurus (Phenicocichla) granatinus, Elliot, Ibis, 1870, p. 417, fig. 8 (pt.).

 

Tus beautiful Pitta was first described by Temminck from specimens procured by Diard near Pontianak, in
Borneo. Since the time when its discovery took place, the species has been sent by other travellers in that
great island; but it has never been seen in any quantity, and cannot be called a common bird. Several
writers have united the Malayan species, Pitta coccinea of Eyton, with the true Pitta granatina of Borneo ;
but, as I have remarked in my account of the former species, this is, IN my opinion, an erroneous
identification.

Indeed I am not sure that a second species has not been confounded under the single heading of LP.
granatina in the island of Borneo itself; and I invite attention to the differences which will be observed at a
elance in the two figures drawn on the accompanying Plate. One of these birds is a little smaller than the
other, and has the red nape-patch much finer, while there is a good deal of difference in the colour of the
dorsal plumage. One bird has the feathers of the back rounded and deep purple, wake in the other the
feathers are pointed and beautifully glossed with purplish lilac, which 1s quite metallic in its Gmulicmiey I
am not sure whether these two different states of plumage represent a distinction of sex; but if my surmise
cies in Borneo, hitherto confounded under the same name, I would

should prove correct that there are two spe ie
that of granatina for the

propose for the lilac-backed bird the appellation of Pitta adoranda, reserving é
species with the dark purplish back, as I have in wy collection an example in this state received direct

from Temminck when he was Director of the Leiden Museum. -*
onfined to the island of Borneo, at different points of which it has

d it at Pontianak, Schwaner at Banjermassing, Everett at
I have been lately informed by Mr. Sharpe that it occurred
Like most of the Pittas it would

The present species appears to be c
been met with by collectors. Diard first collecte
Marup, and David and Beccari at Sarawak, while
in Mr. W. B. Pryer’s consignment from Sandakan in North-east Borneo. a
appear to be migratory; for the Marquis Doria writes that the species oe a oe pe
vicinity of Sarawak, as no specimens were seen during June and November. le Z

i : Boa ee ‘aleontera: the iris is brown.
killed by him contained remains of small Cockroaches and Coleone tina, the other being the bird
In the Plate are figured two specimens, one being referable to Pitta granatind, S
to)

a They are h in my own collection.
e / if] : rove y istinct. hey are bot ,

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