330 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON BIRDS COLLECTED BY 



nigris ; pileo summo et capitis lateribus nigerrimis ; tectricibus alaruin lsetissime 

 cyaneis, majoribus nigris cyaneo terminates ; remigibus nigris, secundariis intimis 

 dorso concoloribus, externis extus viridibus, primariis 4°, 5°, 6° extus prope basin 

 macula alba ornatis ; gula alba ; corpore reliquo subtus lsete cyaneo ; pectore et 

 abdomine medio nigerrimis ; crisso et subcaudalibus scarlatinis ; rostro nigro ; 

 iride saturate brunnea. Long. tot. 7'5, culm. 1*1, alae 4*75, caudse 1*7, tarsi 1*7. 



a. $ ad. Dumalon, Mindanao. 



b. $ juv. Dumalon, Mindanao. 



[Tbis bird was probably not very rare in the neighbourhood of the village of Dumalon, 

 as I had one or two more specimens of it, which unfortunately were destroyed. — 

 J. B. S.] 



There is no species Avith which this beautiful Pitta can be directly compared, as it 

 differs so thoroughly from all the described forms. Its bright blue breast and white 

 throat distinguish it from all the black-headed members of the genus. 



A second specimen is apparently a younger male from the same locality. It diifers 

 only in the colouring of the belly, which is pale scarlet all the way up, becoming blacker 

 in certain parts, and showing that the whole is becoming black as in the full-plumaged 

 bird described. 



66. Brachyurtjs propinquus, sp. n. 



B. afiinis B. erytlirogastro, sed tergo cyanescente, plaga transversali dorsali tantum 

 viridi ; pileo castaneo-rufo ; collo postico lsete cyaneo ; gutture toto nigricante, 

 mento tantum rufo maculato ; prsepectore nigerrimo ; plaga pectorali lsete cyanea, 

 pectoris lateribus viridescentibus ; corpore reliquo subtus lsetissime scarlatino ; sub- 

 alaribus brunneis sordide cyanescenti lavatis, alis ut in B. erytlirogastro coloratis. 

 Long. tot. 6-5, culm. 0"75, alae 3 - 6, caudas 1-5, tarsi 1-35. 



a. <J ad. Balabac, Sept. 1874. Iris grey. 



b. $ juv. Dumalon, Mindanao. Iris hazel. 



As might be expected, this bird is very closely allied to B. erythrogaster, which is 

 apparently a Manila species. We have compared the Balabac skin with four examples 

 of the true B. erythrogaster, and find that it cannot be united to that species. The 

 differences may be summarized as follows : — 



B. erythrogaster. B. propinquus. 



Back entirely green, including the scapulars, the Back entirely cobalt, including the scapulars ; 



lower ones only of the latter washed with blue at only the middle of the back green washed with 



the tip ; rump and upper tail-coverts and tail blue, forming a band across the back, 



blue. 



Throat brown, gradually shading into black on Throat entirely brownish black, becoming jet- 



the fore neck. black on the fore neck. 



Chest green, with a slight wash of blue on the Chest bright blue, the sides only greenish, 



central portion. 



Under wivg-coverts greyish brown. Under loiny-coverts dull blue. 



This species is intermediate between B. erythrogaster and B. cyanonohts of Ternate, 



