PITTA. 393 



Length 8 ; tail 1'6 ; wing 4-9 ; tarsus 1'7 ; bill from gape 1*2. 



Uistribution. The southern portion of Arrakan ; Pegu ; 

 Tenasserim. This Pitta is a seasonal visitor to the northern 

 portion of its range, visiting Arrakan, Pegu, and Northern 

 To nas.se rim in April and May, and leaving in July. It appears to 

 be a permanent resident in Southern Teuasserim. It ranges to 

 Siam and down the Malay peninsula to some of the islands. 



Habits, $-c. Breeds in May, June, and July, constructing a large 

 oven-shaped nest of leaves, roots, and earth, matted together on 

 the ground or on a large branch or fallen tree near the ground. 

 The eggs, usually five in number, are white, richly marked with 

 red and purple, and measure about 1*05 by 0*87. 



932. Pitta niegarhyncha. The Larger Blue-ivinged Pitta. 



Pitta megaiiiyncha, Schleg. Vog. Ned. Ind., Pitta, p. 32, pi. 4, fig. L> 

 (1803) ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi, p. 242 ; Hume, Cat. no. 345 ter ; 

 Gates, B. B. i, p. 41G ; Sclater, Cat. B. M. xiv, p. 421 ; Oates in 

 Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 285, note. 



Brachyurus niegarliynchus (Schlcg.), Elliot, Ibis, 1870, p. 414, pl.xii. 



Coloration. Very similar to P. cyanoptera, but differing slightly 

 in coloration, larger, and with a much longer bill. The coronal 

 streak is obsolete or altogether absent, the brown of the head is 

 darker, the breast is paler, and the black collar narrower. 



Bill black ; iris deep brown ; legs and feet dark fleshy. 



Length ( J ; tail 1*7 ; wing 4'7 ; tarsus 1*6 ; bill from gape 1*6. 



Distribution. Southern Pegu and Tenasserim from Moulmein 

 southwards. This species appears to visit Pegu and the more 

 northern parts of its range in Tenasserim in May, and to depart 

 in July, but in Southern Tenasserim it is probably a resident. Its 

 range extends down the Malay peninsula, and it is also found 

 in Bauka. 



Habits, <$fc. The nest of this species has not yet been found within 

 Indian limits. Further south in the Malay peninsula a nest was 

 found in April, and appears to have been of the usual type. 



933. Pitta brachynra. The Indian Pitta. 



Corvus brachyurus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 158 (1766). 



Corvus brachyurus, var. bengalensis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i, p. 376 (1788). 



Turdus coronatus, P. L. S. Mull. Natursyst., Suppl. p. 144 (1776). 



Pitta triostegus (Sparrm.\ Blyth, Cat. p. 157. 



Pitta brachyura (Linn.}, Gould, Cent. pi. 23; Hume, Cat. no. 345; 



Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 169; Sclater, Cat. B. M. xiv, p. 423; 



Oates in Hume's N. & E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 285. 

 Pitta bengalensis (Gmel.), Horsf. & M. Cat. i, p. 184 5 Jerd. B. I. 



i, t>. 503. 



Brachy lirus bengalensis (Gmel.}, Elliot, Mm. Pitt. pi. vi. 

 Pitta coronata (P. L. S. Mull.), Hume, N. #. E. p. 224 ; Lec/ge, Birds 



Ceylon, p. 687. 



The Yellow-breasted Ground-Thrush, Jerd. ; Nourang, Hind. ; Shumcha, 

 Beng. ; Pona-inki, Tel. ; Avitchia, Ayitta, Cing. 



