864 NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 



This description has been taken from a single specimen received 

 in spirits, and which proved on dissection to be a male. It 

 belongs properly to the sub-genus Cyanalcyon, and is most nearly 

 allied to C. diops, C> leucopygialis, and C. macleayana, but may 

 be distinguished froru all of them by its white interscapular region, 

 back, and upper tail colours. It appears to be smaller than 

 any other species of the genus, being about the same size or 

 smaller than Halcyon recxrvirostris. 



Pitta (Erylhro qritta) finsciiii. sp. nov. 



The whole of the head, nape, neck and chin of a dark reddish 

 chocolate brown, tinged with reddish in certain lights ; throat 

 Mack, across the chest a broad band of blue, bounded below by a 

 narrow band of black, all the feathers of this black band tipped 

 with crimson ; the remainder of the under surface very deep 

 rich crimson ; outer series of the under tail coverts tipped with 

 blackish blue. The whole of the upper surface, lower portion of 

 hind neck, wings and tail deep blue of the same tint as that of the 

 chest, inner webs of the quills above, and all their under surface 

 1)1 ack, a small white spot on the shoulder coverts, and an oval 

 white spot on the 3rd, 4th, and in some on the 5th primary quill. 



Bill black, legs and feet blackish brown. 



Length of skins 6 to 7 inches. 



Wing, 4 inches ; tail, 2 inches ; tarsus, 1 '6 ; bill from forehead 

 1-15, from nostril 8. 



Jlab. — Astrolabe range. 



What I take to be the females or not quite adult individuals 

 have the sides of the chest and interscapular region oil green. 



Dr. Otto Finsch, however, is of opinion that these with the 

 green backs must be referred to Pitta macklotii (Tem.) 



Notes and Exhibits. 



Professor Stephens exhibited, for the Pev. J. Milne Curran, 

 some specimens of the conifer Walchia Milneana known only from 

 the coal measures of Ballimore, near Dubbo. Also a specimen of 

 Spirifer from the Marine Coal Measures, near Mudgee. 



