Pir A CHA RULEITORQUES.
Red-headed Pitta.

Pitta ceruleitorques, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov. ix. p. 53 (1876-7

ie ' 7).—Rowley, Ornithological Miscellany,
part vil. (1877).

 

In an interesting communication made by Dr. Meyer to Mr. Dawson Rowley’s ‘Ornithological Miceel ain
that gentleman points out the distribution of the red-breasted Pitte in the Malayan archipelago, and shows
how each of the species, which I consider should be kept under the heading of Erythropitta in the present
work, has its own separate area of distribution, however closely they may be allied as species. Thus Pitta
celebensis is the species of Celebes, P. palliceps of Siao, P. ca@ruleitorques of Sangi (Sanghir), P. erythro-
gastra of the Philippines, P. eyanonota of Ternate, P. rufiventris of Batchian and Gilolo, and P. mackloti of
Papua and its islands, as well as the northern part of Australia. Many other instances of a similar distri-
bution could be brought forward.

Count Salvadori, in his original description of the present species, writes as follows :—* This species, and
the P. erythrogastra of the Philippines, are the only two species of the subgenus Erythropitta which have a
blue band on the neck; and P. c@ruleitorques differs from the above-named bird principally in the more
uniform red colour of the head, which becomes much brighter on the neck, by the absence of the two dull
bands on the side of the crown, by the reddish-brown colour of the sides of the head and throat, by the
blue colour of the breast being more extended crosswise, and separated from the red of the abdomen by a
well-marked black band, and by the somewhat larger dimensions.”

Dr. Meyer obtained several examples of the blue-ringed Pitta from Sangi, at Tabukan, on the north-east
coast of fhe island, no difference being observable in the colour of the sexes; and I give the following extract
from his remarks communicated to the ‘ Ornithological Miscellany :’—

‘This species inhabits the largest island of the Sangi group; and it is an interesting one, because it is
more closely allied to Pitta erythrogastra from the Philippines, in the north, than to the two species from
islands immediately to the south (viz. Pitta palliceps from Siao, and Pitta celebensis from Celebes), and
therefore presents a good example of variation of species in consequence of separa insular ce pcod
examples for the same point of view are, amongst others, Pitta cyanonota trom Ternate, and Pitta rufiventris
from Halmahera, in their relation to the species from the neighbouring islands (New Guinea, Celebes, the
Sangi, and Philippine Islands). Pitta palliceps on Siao is as slightly different from! Etta celebensis on
Celebes as Pitta ceruleitorques on Sangi is from Pitta erythrogastra on the Philippines. That insular
separation is a reason for such variations is not to be oelieel in my opinion ; nevertheless vie cannot
examine this subject more closely at present. Pitta celebensis, for instance, does not show the least difference
over the whole extent of the island of Celebes. My specimens from the neighbourhood of Makassar resemble
exactly those from Manado (nearly the north and south points oi long island); Gi when we ie
over to the closely neighbouring island of Siao, immediately a variation Dane Pitta palliceps. ee ie
this variation has specific value or not is of no importance at all upon this pant of aa L ut i
do not agree, and never will agree, at least for some time to a one says ut ee Hie a 2 ek 3 a
not; but all see that a difference exists ; and this is of value, notwithstanding its sD SS | ia i
constant one. That insular separation does not always produce constant maa 1S eae oe
mention it here for this reason—that it refers to a closely allied species, a TSE I got a large
series of specimens on New Guinea in different places, viz. at Dore, Andet, ee eS Rubi, ag a

ins some isla  Jobi in the north of Geelvink Bay. I first thought that
the Elephant Mountains, and some on the island of tig difesccce aan
the Jobi specimens differed by brighter colours in general, and av ae ae ga :
in the cabinet, I do not see the slightest difference in several of oe cies oe a
ation of the original one given by Count Salvadori :

he £. ing description is a transl ; . :
The following descript : hind neck; sides of head and throat

-ceptibly brighter towards the

Head above red, the latter colour perceptibly brighter towar¢ 1 round the hind neck, another very

brownish red; a very broad patch of black on the lower throat; a band round the , :
ec f :