CYANOPITTA STEERIL.
Steere’s Pitta.

Brachyurus steerii, Sharpe, Nature, August 3, 1876.—Id. Trans. Linn. Soc., 2nd ser. Zool. i. p. 329, pl. xlix.
Pitta steerti, Gould, Birds of Asia, part 29.
Melanopitta steerii, ‘Tweed. Proc. Zool. Soc., 1878, p. 949.

 

Or all the fine birds brought to light by Dr. Steere’s expedition to the Philippine Islands this is
decidedly one of the most striking (his grandest novelty being, of course, the Sarcophanops steeri). Not
only is this new Pitta one of the largest of the family, falling not far short of the well-known Pitta

maxima in size, but it is also perfectly distinct as regards its coloration ; for there is no species which

 

is blue underneath as the present bird is. From its black head, it ought to be associated with the group
called by Bonaparte Melanopitta ; but from all these it it easily distinguished by its unique coloration, which
reminds one most of Pitta maxima, though there are differences almost sufficient to warrant its bemg placed
re ‘na different section from that bird; and I therefore propose the name of Cyanopitta for it.

Dr. Steere discovered this Pitta in the Province of Zamboanga, in the large island of Mindanao. He
stayed for some time hunting in the neighbourhood of Zamboanga and Dumalon ; and he procured several
new species of birds during his residence in that island. It was in the forests adjoining the above-
mentioned places that he met with this beautiful Pitta, which was also found by Mr. Alfred Everett near

 

Zamboanga.

The following is a description of the typical specimens :-—

Above dull green, with a shade of brighter grass-green under certain lights; wing-coverts silvery cobalt,
forming a large shoulder-patch ; bastard wing, primary-coverts, and greater coverts black, the latter blue
at the ends, the innermost more or less green on the inner webs ; primaries black, greenish towards the
ends of the outer webs of the shorter ones ; the secondaries more and more green on the outer webs as
they approach the innermost, which are entirely green, the third to the seventh primaries having a large
ar speculum ; upper tail-coverts silvery cobalt, forming a band across the lower

white spot forming an al
ts black; tail black; crown of head, nape, and sides of face black ;

rump, some of the upper tail-cover
cheeks and throat white ; rest of under surface of body light blue, the centre of the abdomen black; under
wing-coverts black.

Another specimen, apparen
lower part of the belly pale vermilion.

I am under the greatest obligation to Dr. Steere for his kindness in lending me so many of his rare
birds. The figures in the Plate represent the only two specimens of this Pitta procured by him, and are of

tly a somewhat younger bird, was also procured by Dr. Steere, and had the

the size of life.