PHGZNICOCICHLA USSHERI

Ussher’s Pitta.

Pitta ussheri, Sharpe, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1877, p. 94._Id. Ibis, 1879, p. 263.—Gould, Birds of Asia, TO eampSoxeIbKe
(1877).—Sharpe, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1881, p. 798.

 

Since I published my figure of this fine species in the ‘ Birds of Asia,’ the gentleman who discovered this
beautiful Pitta, and in whose honour it was named by Mr. Bowdler Sharpe, has passed away. Governor
Ussher, when a young man, served on the Gold Coast, where he stayed for nearly sixteen years ; and during
the whole of this time he was interesting himself in the study of natural history, though for the greater
portion of it he was engaged only in collecting insects, many fine species of which were sent home by him to
his friend Mr. Andrew Swanzy. A letter which Mr. Sharpe wrote to him, calling his attention to the com-
paratively unworked field for natural history in the interior of the Gold Coast, induced him to study the
ornithology of Denkera and the inner provinces, by means of native collectors; and with such success did
he persevere, that in the space of two years he had formed a complete collection of the birds known to occur
there up to the year 1869, while at the same time he sent home many splendid novelties. After leaving the
Gold Coast, he was for a short time Governor of Tobago, and then became Governor of Labuan. While
in the West Indies his ill-health prevented his collecting much; but when in Borneo he recommenced with
all his old energy, and sent over to England exhaustive collections from the island of Labuan itself, as well
as from the Lawas river, which he diligently explored, chiefly in the hope of getting living specimens of
Bulwer’s Pheasant. A full description of these collections was given by Mr. Sharpe in ‘ The Ibis’ and in
the * Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ for 1879. His failing health obliged him at last to quit Labuan
for England, where he recovered his strength considerably, and he was, to his great delight, appointed by
Mr Disraeli’s government to the Gold Coast, for which he set out as Governor in 1879. During his
absence from West Africa, the seat of government in that quarter of the globe had been changed from
Cape-Coast Castle to Accra; and in the neighbourhood of the latter town the country is more open, and
the fauna resembles that of Senegambia rather than that of the rich forest districts to be found inland from
the former town. He managed, however, by means of his collectors, to form a considerable collection in
Denkera, while he himself worked at the avifauna of his own immediate neighbourhood ; and he was about to
return to England in December last in the 8.8. ‘ Lualaba’ to recruit his health: but it appears that he had
delayed his return too long; for he died the day before the arrival of that vessel at Accra. Such is a brief
outline of the career of one of England’s best colonial governors ; and it only shows what material aid to
science can be given by an energetic and intelligent official in a foreign country. In the case of Governor
Ussher, his loss is mourned not only by the country which he served so well, but also by the English
community of natural historians for whom he has done so much successful work.

Ussher’s Pitta was discovered by him during his exploration of the Lawas river in North-western Borneo,
where it was also met with by Mr. Treacher. It has more recently been procured by Mr. W. B. Pryer in
Sandakan, in the north-eastern portion of that island. It is closely allied to Pitta venusta of Java; but it
is distinguished at once from that species by its black colour washed with purple above, as well as by the
throat and chest being of the same purplish black; the enamel-like blue markings on the wing are also
very much larger and brighter.

The following is a careful description of the typical example : a

General colour above black, with a distinct shade of purple everywhere except on the head, which is
glossy black, as well as the lores and sides of the face ; from Se the eye to the nape runs a cisanet
superciliary streak of pointed feathers, silvery cobalt in COE slightly shaded ua purple on the hinder
plumes ; wings blue-black, the median and cueatier coverts ae cobalt at ine tips and on the a : =
forming an enamel-like patch on the wing ; quills black, the ae pecomdanies) eiremoellly deep a ee
deep blue; throat and chest black, the latter sivOug washed id purple, shading mE the wae : the
breast ; rest of the under surface of the body deep crimson ; thighs brown ; under wing-coverts black.

Total length 6°8 inches, culmen 0°85, wing aS tail 13, tarsus 1°6. ; hichtledeece ed

The figures in the Plate represent the old bird in Em oes a well as a ee ae
in my own collection, and which doubtless belongs to this species. ‘The figures of the adult are dr

 

the typical specimen.

[R. B. S.J