MELAMPITTA LUGUBRIS, Schseger.

Black Ground-Thrush.

Melampitta lugubris, Schl. N. T. D. iv. p. 47.—Sclater, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 696.

 

Waar are the natural affinities of this most curious bird ? is a question which will exercise the ingenuity of
ornithologists for some time to come. The generic appellation Melampitta, or “Black Ground-Thrush,”
bestowed upon it by Professor Schlegel, shows that by that eminent ornithologist the bird was evidently
considered a near ally of the genus Pitta; and this is the position which I myself would assign to it. But
the interesting aspect of the question still remains with regard to the affinities of the Mascarene genus
Philepitta, another systematic puzzle to ornithologists. As the name of the latter genus implies, it was
considered to be a relation of the Pittide, in which family it has generally been included; but Mr. Sharpe

 

has referred it to the Paradiseidae—an indication of the difficulty presented by the structural peculiarities
of the bird.

An important link between Pitta and Philepitta seems to be offered in the present species, which unites
the general appearance of a true Ground-Thrush with something of that velvety plumage for which Philepitta
is famous; and therefore I cannot but regard this discovery of Baron von Rosenberg’s as of the highest
interest to the ornithologist, not only as uniting genera whose affinities were doubtful, but also as exhibiting
another of the mysterious links which unite the fauna of Madagascar and certain portions of the Malayan
archipelago. .

Nothing is known of the present species beyond the fact that it was discovered in the northern peninsula
of New Guinea, and was afterwards met with by d’Albertis in the Atam district.

The entire bird is black with a slight bluish tinge, the feathers of the forehead, region of the eye, lores,
base of mandible, and chin having a velvety appearance. The length is about six inches.

My Plate is taken from Signor d’Albertis’s Atam specimen, and represents the species of the size of life.