Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Tittidse. 409 



Pitta bert^, Salvador!, Atti Accad. Sc. Torin. 1868, pp. 

 527, 528. 



A specimen of Brachyurus moluccensis (P. L. S. Miill.) from 

 Borneo, diflFering, according to Dr, Salvador!, in its " smaller 

 size, light blue of the rump, rose-colour of the abdomen, and 

 white spot on the first remiges only," has been separated 

 by that author. In the colour of the rump and abdomen it 

 agrees with many specimens of the well-known species ; and the 

 other characteristics do not seem sufficient to establish it as 

 distinct. I should state, however, that my opinion is formed 

 from description only, as I have never seen the specimen. 



Pitta megarhyncha, Schleg. Vog. Nederl. Ind. pi. 4. fig. 2. 



This bird bears a close resemblance to P. cyanoptera, auctt., 

 but possesses a bill very different, both in shape and colour, the 

 latter being black. It also differs in having the reddish-brown 

 of the head extending to the nape, without being broken by a 

 black bar ; the lower part of the neck behind bordered with 

 black. The accompanying plate (PI. XII.) readily shows the 

 differences between this bird and its ally. 



Pitta simillima, Gould, Proc. Zool. See. 1868, p. 7Q. P. 

 krefti, Salvad. Atti Soc. Ital. Sc. Nat. xii. p. 551. 



I have the type specimen before me, kindly lent to me by Mr. 

 Gould, with the locality. Cape York, marked upon the label. 

 In every respect, as to colour and general marking of plumage, 

 it precisely resembles P. strepiians, auctt., diflfering from it only 

 in size. Mr. llamsay, in a communication to ' The Ibis ' (1867, 

 p. 416), mentions the difference in the size of the Pitta from 

 northern and southern portions of that continent, and also no- 

 tices a further variation in the extent of the ivhite patch on the 

 primaries, which, as he says, extends over two of them in the 

 smaller bird, but on the fourth, fifth, and sixth of the larger 

 form. In the type specimen of P. simillima it is confined to 

 a small round spot on the outer web of the fourth primary, but 

 is not wanting, as stated by Mr. Ramsay, and is very conspicu- 

 ous on the fifth and sixth, as in the large race. The two forms 

 appear to mingle together about Moreton Bay, In their mode 



