PITTA RUBRINUCHA, wan.

Red-naped Pitta,

Pitta rubrinucha, Wallace, P. Z.S. 1862, p. 187.—Id. P.Z.S. 1863, p. 25.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 297.
no. 4382 (1869).—Schlegel, Revue Coll. Pitta Mus. Pays-Bas, p. 12 (1874).--Salvad. Annali Mus.
Civic. Genov. vill. p. 375 (1876).

Brachyurus rubrinucha, Elliot, Monograph of the Pittide, pl. xviii. (1863).—Id. Ibis, 1870, p. 418.

 

Auruouen bearing a general resemblance to the other red-breasted species of the genus Pitta, the present
bird possesses such a well-marked character in its red nape-spot, that it can be easily distinguished at a
glance from all its allies. Another conspicuous and peculiar mark exists in the blue colour on the ear-
coverts. It was discovered by Mr. Wallace in the Moluccan island of Bouru, where it has since been met
with by the hunters of Mr. Bruijn, who sent four specimens to the museum at Genoa.

Professor Schlegel, in his Review of the Ant-thrushes contained in the Leiden Museum, records a single
specimen from the island of Ceram, collected there by Von Rosenberg—a new locality for the species, and
one which we should almost suppose would require confirmation, when one thinks of the absolute manner
in which these red-breasted Pittas are confined each to his own locality. This seems to be also Count Salva-
dori’s opinion.

Nothing whatever has been written of the habits or mode of life of the red-naped Pitta, which still
remains one of the rarest of the genus. Iam indebted to Count Salvadori for the opportunity of figuring
this scarce species, and I herewith return him my hearty thanks for the loan of the pair which are repre-
sented in the accompanying Plate, and which, I believe, are from the collection of the Genoa Museum.
I add a short description.

General colour above olive-green, with a broad scarlet patch on the nape; head chestnut-brown, with a
blue patch on the crown; sides of face and throat light reddish grey, the ear-coverts bluish; lower throat
blackish brown, succeeded by a broad chest-band of pale blue, the rest of the under surface being scarlet ;
primaries black, with a white spot on two or three of them; bill brown; legs light grey.

The sexes are alike in plumage.

Total length 7 inches, bill 4%, wing 1%, tarsus

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