EUCICHLA GURNEYL
Gurney’s Pitta.

Pitta gurney, Hume, Stray Feathers, vol. iii. p. 296.—Gould, Birds of Asia part
Stray Feathers, 1878, p. 244.

Brachyurus gurneyi, Hume, tom. cit. no. 6, Dine

29.—Hume & Davison,

We are indebted to the pages of ‘ Stray Feathers’ for

a knowledge of this new and magnificent Pitta; and
I can readily conceive with what real pleasure Mr.

Allan Hume took up his pen to write a description of so
interesting a bird.

Mr. Hume has given a most careful description of both sexes of the Pitta gurneyi, and his reason
for dedicating this bird to his friend Mr. J. H. Gurney. He remarks :—

‘No more beautiful or interesting addition to our Indian avifauna has been made for many a long day ;
and its discovery is one of the results of the systematic ornithological survey of the Tenasserim Provi nces
which for the past two years has been vigorously prosecuted by my curator Mr. William Davison and my
whole staff.

“Though conspicuously different from any one of them, this new species is most nearly allied to
P. cyanura, Gmel. (guarana, P. L. 8. Mill.), P. schwaneri, Temm., P. bose, S. Mull.

«There is the same cuneiform blue tail, the same comparatively small bill, the same more or less rufous
olivaceous upper surface, the same difference in the sexes, an orange-brown replacing on the head of the
female the more marked colours of that portion of the male.

‘*The habitat of this fine bird is Tenasserim, where it is a seasonal visitant to the evergreen forests of
the southernmost portions of the province. Mr. Davison, who collected the specimens, gives the following
note on their habits :—

*«« This is apparently only a migratory species in Tenasserim, and occurs, so far as I have observed, only
in the southern portion of the province. Laynah was the most northern locality at which I observed it,
and Kenong within the estuary of the Pakchan, but on the Siamese or southern side, the most southern.

‘<A few specimens begin to make their appearance in the forests round Malewoon and Balenso (Chee
my specimens were mostly collected) about the 10th or so of February; but they remain scarce during
February, March, and the first two weeks in April. After that they become rather more numerous, and
Pentinue so to the end of May and until the regular monsoon rains have set in, when they rapidly
disappear, though even in July a few specimens may be met with. the bird confines tel to the ee
forests, never, that I am aware, venturing into the open or even ute gardens. It is shy and retiring,
and on the slightest indication of danger hops rapidly away, managing generally to aoa some obstacle
intervening between itself and the approaching person. It is by no ee bind ag ae
does occur; and it was only by persistently hunting them, and never missing a opportunity of securing a
bird where possible, that I and my people succeeded in getting ihe number we el. | oe

«<< Tts habits are like those of other members of the genus, keeping to the ground ; it feeds on snails, wor ms,
When disturbed, unless closely pressed, it seldom flies, but hops rapidly

slugs, and insects of all kinds. : S : a
a some tangled cane-brake or other refuge, where it remains until satisfied
§

away il it gains the cover of :

Ei danse: be 1 ini the more open spots. Favourite resorts are the
that all danger has passed, when it emerges again mto the pen s} aa , oa
§ eae son aderoromale

narrow valleys lying between the hills. These, though densely w ooded, contain little or nou : 2 fe

| ay ~ Yl vs) JA Ss y yi

is ai that of Pitta, but yet differs notably from that of the other species. When suddenly
C y a L ») ‘ =

r note, a sort of Air-r-7. It has a habit of jerking up

and)

, which I have never observed in its congeners.

««« The note is quite
come upon or otherwise alarmed it utters a peculia
its tail and dropping its wings slightly as it ae along on

ioned, it 1s < st exclusively a ground- 8
ee en ym aon ie double note it was uttering, quite unlike its Ae
its wings and jerked up its tail. Usually it is found singly,
they call, and may then be heard

but ove evening I shot a male high up in a

tree; it attracted my attention by the
note, and every time it uttered it, it flapped : acne
. ss eee: eve
: ARE ing the morning anc g
“as / 1 couple together. During
occasionally a couy ee eee:
answering one another in all directions.

; air ‘eds kindly given to me by Mr. Hume.
ibe 6 in the Plate represent, and are drawn from, a pair of birds kindly g J
ie figures Seta