420 MANUAL OF PHILIPPINE BIRDS. 
Writing of Pitta atricapilla and P. mulleri Sharpe * says: “These 
two birds are closely related; but the Bornean species [mudleri] almost 
entirely wants the black patch ogg@he belly, and has the thighs blackish 
instead of ochraceous brown.” 
384. PITTA ROTHSCHILD! (Parrot). 
ROTHSCHILD’S PITTA. 
Pitta atricapilla rothschildi Parrot, Abhandl. K. Bayer Akad. Wiss. (1907), 
24, 223. 
Marinduque (Steere Exp.). 
Male.—Related to Pitta atricapilla from which it is said to differ 
in having the under parts suffused with blue so that there is hardly a 
trace of green remaining; white of the wing-quills much reduced ; chest- 
spot relatively small; and the color of the vent-feathers bright carmine-red 
not cinnabar-red.7 
385. PITTA STEERI (Sharpe). 
STEERE’S PITTA. 
Brachyurus steerti SHARPE, Nature (1876), 14, 297; Trans. Linn. Soc. 2d. 
ser. Zool. (1877), 1, 329, pl. 49. 
Pitta steerii SCLATER, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 442; Grant, Ibis 
(1897), 241; WuITEHEAD, Ibis (1899), 246 (habits). 
Pitta steerei SHARPE, Hand-List (1901), 3, 184. 
Pitta steeri McGrecor and WorcESTER, Hand-List (1906), 68. 
Bohol (McGregor) ; Mindanao (Steere, Hverett, Steere Exp.) ; Samar (Steere 
Exzp., Whitehead). 
Adult (sexes similar).—Entire head and neck and their sides black; 
upper parts green; rump light blue; tail and its coverts black; chin 
and throat white; rest of under parts light blue, except a band of velvety 
black down middle of breast, and the bright scarlet of crissum; thighs 
gray; primaries black, some of them with small white spots near the 
middle; secondaries green; alula and primary-coverts black; secondary- 
coverts shiny silvery blue. Iris brown; bill black; legs gray. Length, 
about 190. A male from Bohol measures: Wing, 115; tail, 38; culmen 
from base, 26; tarsus, 42. A female measures, wing, 115; tail, 38; 
culmen from base, 27; tarsus, 40. 
* Trans. Linn. Soc. 2d. ser. Zool. (1877), 1, 331. 
} The validity of this species appears to me very doubtful; the original descrip- 
tion follows: 
‘“Véllig abweichend aber priisentiert sich ein anscheinend minnliches stiick aus 
Marinduque (Philippinen), dessen Unterseite derartig stark mit Blau iibertént 
erscheint, dass von der griinen Farbe kaum noch eine Spur sichtbar bleibt. Das 
Weiss der Fliigels in den Schwingen erscheint bei diesem interessanten Vogel, 
der zudem stiirker ist wie die beiden anderen Philippiner, in ganz exzessivem 
Masse entwiekelt; der Brustfleck dagegen ist relativ klein. Das Kolorit des 
Steissgefieders ist in priichtiges Karsisinrot (nicht Zinnoberrot).” ( Parrot.) 
Nea Sire: Se a 
