Pittas 609 



(Pittas), Philepittida (Asities), Xenicida (Rifleman and New Zealand Wrens), 

 TyrannidcE (Tyrant-birds), Qxyruncida (Sharp-bills), Piprida (Manakins), 

 Cotingida (Chatterers), Phytotomida (Plant-cutters), Dendrocolaptida (Wood- 

 hewers), FurnariidcB (Oven-birds), Formicariidce (Ant-birds), Conopophagida 

 (Ant-pipits), and Pteroptochida (Tapacolas). 



THE PITTAS 



(Family Pittidce) 



The Pittas form a compact group of about sixty species of small, often 

 brilliantly colored Thrush-like birds confined essentially to southeastern Asia, 

 with a few extending into Australia and three closely related representatives in 

 Africa. They have long legs, the covering of the tarsus in front being entire 

 and smooth, rather short, rounded wings with ten primaries, the first of which 

 is of large size, and a very short tail composed of twelve feathers. The most 

 important structural feature is afforded by the organs of voice, the intrinsic 

 muscles of the syrinx being fixed at or near the middle of the bronchial semi- 

 rings, thus excluding them from the true singing birds, where they were formerly 

 placed. The feathers of the crown are more or less elongate and when erected 

 form a conspicuous crest, although in all but one genus these frontal plumes 

 are normally recumbent. A number of the species are partially migratory. 

 The Pittas live almost entirely on the ground, where they run and hop with the 

 greatest facility, most of them preferring the dense jungle, but some may be 

 found in sparse bamboo jungle, gardens, or even comparatively open country. 

 Their flight is quite strong for short distances, but they mostly prefer to escape 

 danger by running, and they disappear with astonishing quickness in the dense 

 tangle of vegetation. They feed almost entirely on insects, worms, and snails, 

 and although not especially notable as songsters the males have a very sweet 

 call, consisting of a peculiar double whistle, which they utter frequently from a 

 low tree. They build large, oven-shaped nests either on the ground or in thick 

 bushes, or branches near the ground, and lay four or five white eggs which are 

 richly marked with reddish, purplish, etc. 



Of the five genera now recognized the first to be considered (Anihocichla) is 

 characterized by a rather long, compressed bill, and by the feathers on the sides 

 of the nape being long, pointed, and forming conspicuous aigrettes. The single 

 species, known as Phayre's Pitta (A. phayrei), is found in Tenasserim and the 

 Karen Hills, and is a quietly handsome bird about nine inches in length with 

 the plumage mainly clear brown throughout, with a broad black band over the 

 center of the head and down the nape, while the middle of the throat is white 

 and the sides and flanks marked with black spots. The female is similar, but 

 lacks the black on the head and nape, and is more spotted below. This ap- 

 pears to be a very rare bird, and little is known of its habits beyond the fact that 

 it frequents moderately thin tree jungle, and builds the typical domed nest on 



