408 Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Pittidae. 



XXIX. — Remarks on some lately -described Pittae, with a Synopsis 



of the Family as now known. By D. G. Elliot, F.L.S., 



F.Z.S., &c. 



(Plates XII., XIII.) 



Since my monograph of the Pittidce was brought to a conclu- 

 sion, now over seven years ago, several members of the family 

 have been described as new ; and it has occurred to me that a 

 critical review of these, as regards their specific value, together 

 with a comparison between them and those species long known 

 to us, to which many of them bear a very close resemblance, 

 might not be unacceptable to ornithologists. 



I am much indebted to Mr. Gould, Mr. Swinhoe, and Dr. 

 Schlegel, who have allowed me the use of the types of their 

 species for description in this paper, without which I should not 

 have been able to make the examinations necessary, and arrive at 

 satisfactory conclusions. 



The species described as new may be enumerated as follows : 

 — Pitta oreas, Swinhoe ; P. megarhyncha, P. bankana, and P. 

 sanghirana, Schleg. ; P. simillima, P. strenua, Gould ; P. krefti 

 and P. bertcB, Salvadori ; and P. digglesi, Kreft. Tbese 1 shall 

 examine in detail. And, in accordance with the arrangement 

 given in my work on this family, Mr. Swinhoe's species first 

 claims our attention. 



Pitta oreas, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1864, p. 428. 



This bird, which, I believe, represents a distinct species, was 

 procured by Mr. Swinhoe from the Formosan mountains in May 

 1864. It belongs to that group which is distinguished from the 

 other divisions of the family by having the under parts buff. It 

 is most nearly allied to Brachyurus coronatus (P. L. S. Miill.) , but 

 can readily be distinguished by the crown being of a dull reddish- 

 brown,and by having the underwing-coverts jet-black, withoutany 

 trace of the white feathers which form so conspicuous a mark in 

 its ally. In size it does not differ materially, the measurements, 

 according to Mr. Swinhoe, beiog : — total length 8 inches ; wing 5 ; 

 tail 1-8; bill along culmen 1, to gape 1-2, depth at base '35 ; 

 tarsus 1-6. The accompanying figure (PI. XIII. fig. 1) gives a 

 very faithful representation of this bird. 



