Indian Birds 



Punjab, U.P., Behar, Assam, and Burma. Very 

 common in S. India. (Illus. B. P., p. 80 ; also 

 B. B., p. 62, and G. B., p. 40, and I. F., p. 128). 



The Pittas, 109 



Pittas are unique birds. They are about the 

 size of a quail and are characterised by their 

 short tails and legs and their many-coloured 

 plumage. They feed upon the ground, but 

 when alarmed they take refuge in bushes. 

 They are never seen far from cover. They 

 have a cheery whistling song. 



109. Pitta brachyura : The Indian Pitta. 



(F. 933), (J; 345)> (H.) _ 



The natives call this species the Naurang 

 (nine colours) on account of its many colours. 



The crown is yellow tinged with orange and 

 divided in the middle by a broad black band 

 running from the beak to the nape of the neck, 

 where it meets a broader black band that 

 passes below the eye. The eyebrow is white. 

 The back and shoulders are dull bluish green. 

 There is a patch of pale blue feathers over the 

 tail and a patch of the same colour on the wing. 

 The feathers of the wing and tail are black 

 tipped with blue. There is a white bar in the 

 154 



