294 NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE XXI. 1914. 



of tbe germs CoUocaUa in the Proc. Acad. y<it. Sciences Philadelphia, vol. Iviii. 

 p. 177, 1906 ; and the notes on the forms of C. linchi and C. francica in Nov. Zool. 

 xix. 1912, pp. 347, :!49, and xxi. 1914, j)]). 114, llTi, by Erwiu Stresemann. 

 In his first article Mr. Stresemann has honoured Mr. Oberholser by describing 

 a C. linchi oberhoheri, and we have here dedicated the most interesting form of 

 esculenta from Admiralty Island to our friend Stresemann. I have no doubt that 

 both streseimnuu and neglecta must be looked njion as forms of esculenta, and tliat 

 Oberholser's contrary view [t.c.^.'ZW) is merely due to the very small series 

 which he appears to have examined. In fact, C. e. neglecta is sometimes not easy to 

 distinguish from C. e. esculenta, and I refer to my remarks in Kor. Zool. vi. p. 268, 

 v. p. 469, and vii. p. 18. That the tarsus, and in many specimens also the hind- 

 toe is scantily feathered, appears not to have been noticed or pointed ont before ; 

 and even Oberholser, who (t.c, pp. 178, 179, 182) laid so much stress upon this 

 character that he considered the neglecting of it as having caused much confusion, 

 and even erected a new "subgenus" which he called " Aerodramus'" (without 

 using this name), appears to have overlooked it. For me this slight diiference is 

 no hindrance for treating these forms as subspecies, and it shows the fallacy of the 

 subgenus " Aerodranuu" especially as C. e. stresemanni takes, in a way, an inter- 

 mediate position. — E. H.] 



35. Pitta superba Rothsch. & Hart. 



Pilki siiperha Rotliscliild and Hartert, Bull. B.O. Clitb xx.xiii. p. lOG (Febr. 1014— Manus). 



i ad. Glossy black, lower back, rump and upper tail-coverts without gloss. 

 Quills and primary coverts black, the inner primaries and all the secondaries with 

 wide dull green edges to the distal ends of the outer webs. All upper wing- 

 coverts, when held between the eye and the light, of a light glossy bine, when 

 held away from the light pale bluish green, bhick at the utmost base, and with a 

 dull dark green baud between the black of the base and the glossy tip. Middle oi 

 abdomen, flanks and under tail-coverts bright red. Tail and under wing-coverts 

 black. Bill black ; iris dark brown ; feet and legs flesh-colour. Wing 128-134, 

 tail 48-51, tarsus 51-54, cnlmen 31-33 mm. 



? ad. Like the male, but smaller ; the red of the abdomen and the glossy 

 upper wing-coverts generally a little less bright; wings 122-126, tail 46-48, 

 tarsus 51-52, culmeu 30-32 mm. 



The young birds are dull black, without gloss, the red of the abdomen and 

 under tail-coverts is of a dull pink, the upper wing-coverts have very little gloss, 

 the utmost tip of the beak is orange-red. 



Meek's collectors sent sixteen adult males (Nos. 6030, 6U42, 6070, 6075,6076, 

 6089, 6097, 6098, 6103, G13S, 6107, 6174, 6180, 6244, 6250), eleven adult females 

 (Nos. 6074, 6077, 6085, 6088, 6089, 6099, 6100, 6131, 6151, 6179, 6238), and two 

 yonng ones (Nos. 6059 cJ, 6069 ? ). 



A huge nest with two eggs was found on October 11. The nest is a big 

 oval structure with large lateral entrance, composed of fibres and rootlets with moss 

 and decayed leaves. The inner lining consists of nothing but fibres and rootlets. 

 The opening measures about 11 by 7 cm. The two eggs are tyjiical Pitta-eggs. 

 Their colour is white and they are marked with small roundish purplish brown- 

 black spots and a few larger ones, also mostly round, of the same colour, and with 

 underlying luanve-grey roundish spots, the markings being mostly round the 



