PITTA FORSTENTL,

Forsten’s Pitta,

Pitta melanocephala, Miill. & Schl. Verh. Natuurl. Geschied., Zool.,
Wagler).—Westerm. Bijdr. Dierk. Amsterd. (folio), i. part vi.
Pays-Bas, Pitta, p.4 (1863).—Id. Vog. Nede
Pays-Bas, Pitta, Revue, p- 9 (1874).

Brachyurus forsteni, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 256 (18

Melanopitta forsteni, Bp. Consp. Volucr. Anis. 1854, p. 7,

Brachyurus (Melanopitta) forsteni, Elliot, Monogr.

Pitta forstent, Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p.

50).—Elliot, Ibis, 1870, p. 419.

 

Pittidee, pl. xxiv. (1863).
295, no. 4363 (1869 ).

Tue genus Pitta has been divided by some ornithologists into v
on the prevailing style of coloration; and so
I am inclined to admit them as generic cl

arious subgenera, founded for the most part
strongly characterized are these differences of coloration, that
aracters of no small value.

which Forsten’s Pitta belongs, and to which the subgeneric title
unmistakable a character is the black head! while

To take, for instance, the section to
Melanopitta has been given, how
at the same time it is accompanied by a green plumage
ail-coverts and a lustrous green shoulder-patch. As a rule, too,
for their white quills, which must form

strongly varied by a red vent and under t
the black-headed Pittas are remarkable

a very conspicuous feature
when the birds are alive ;

and many of the species depend upon the amount of white on the
their separation one from the other. It may be taken, therefore
that Forsten’s Pitta has the quills entirely blac

wing-feathers for
, as a character of the greatest importance
k; and it is on this account nearest allied to P. NOVE-LUINER,
which has only a concealed white spot on the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills. The last-named bird, moreover,
differs in having a blue shade bordering the black ventral patch, the absence of which in P. forstent is
compensated for by a broad band of metallic greenish blue across the upper tail-coverts. This band is
found in most of the black-headed Pittas; but in P. nove-guinee it is scarcely distinguishable, being
represented only by a slight metallic green tip to a few of the upper tail-coverts.

As far as we know at present, Forsten’s Pitta is found only in the island of Celebes, and seems, indeed, to
be confined to the northern parts of that island. It was found by Dr. Forsten at Kema and at Tondano.
I have specimens in my collection from Menado, collected by Dr. Meyer; and the following description is
taken from one of these.

Adult. General colour above bright grass-green with somewhat of a metallic lustre; lesser and median
wing-coverts bright metallic greenish cobalt, forming a shoulder-patch; greater series green ; primary-
coverts and quills black, the secondaries black, externally green, like the back, the innermost entirely green ;
most of the upper tail-coverts metallic greenish cobalt, forming a transverse band ; longer upper tail-coverts
and tail-feathers dull greev ; head and hind neck, sides of face and ear-coverts, cheeks and throat black ;
rest of under surface, from the lower throat downwards, bright green, with the lower abdomen, vent, and
under tail-coverts bright scarlet, bordered above with an abdominal patch of black, which descends slightly
on each side of the scarlet patch, the lower feathers being black broadly tipped with scarlet ; thighs brown ;
under wing-coverts and quill-lining black.

Total length 72 inches, culmen $, wing 43, tail 1%, tarsus 14. . -

Since the above meagre description of a fine bird was in press, I have ee a few additional remarks
from Dr. Meyer, to whom I wrote a few days since, and who says of Pitta forstent :— |

* This species only occurs on the island of Celebes, and is represented a ay P. milleri, on
Island by P. sanghirana, on Mindanao by P. steerii, and on other islands of the Philippine group (as well as
on Mindanao) by P. sordida. a

‘All Pittas may be said to be rare birds everywhere, and are only uel with singly or a pall at ia:
I met with but ove Pitta that was plentiful, viz. P. rosenberg?, on the island oi Mole in the north of
Geelvink Bay. Besides, the black-headed Pittas are still rarer than ilu red-bellied Pittas ; a a ce
on the island of Celebes with P. forstent in relation to P. celebensis. In the southern parts of Celebes

: : ‘ . Me remember, and also am not aware that
I did not procure a single specimen of P. forstent, as far as I reme ae

 

 

Pitta, p. 19 (1844, ex Forsten, MSS., nec
(1854), p. 46, pl. 2.—Schlegel, Mus.
rl. Indié, Pitta, pp. 9, 30, pl. ii. fig. 1 (1863).—Id. Mus.

no. 195.—Walden, Trans. Zool. Soc. viii. p- 62 (1872).