1862.] MR. A, R. WALLACE ON NEW SPECIES OF PITTA. 187 
being found in Japan was the Indian Ursus torquatus (sive tibeta- 
nus)*. These young Bears appeared to be distinct from the Indian 
species, resembling in some respects rather the American Ursus 
americanus. There were slight indications of a white mark on the 
throat, but this seemed likely to be wholly obliterated as the animal 
increased. Dr. Sclater considered these animals, in all probability, 
referable to a distinct species, for which he suggested the name Ursus 
japonicus, 
The following papers were read :— 
l. Descriptions or THrer New Species or PITTA FROM THE 
Mouvccas. By Atrrep Russet WALLACE. 
These birds are brought before the Society, detached from the 
collections of which they form a part, because a Monograph of the 
Pittide, by Mr. Elliot, is now in course of publication, and it is de- 
sirable that they should be described in England before appearing 
in a foreign work. 
They are interesting as showing the permanent modifications in 
form of these semiterrestrial birds, in islands within sight of each 
other. I may mention as a curious fact, that the great island of 
Ceram appears to contain no Pitta, although one or two species - 
occur in almost all the other islands of the Moluccan group. I have 
myself collected for several months in various parts of Ceram and 
Amboyna, without seeing or hearing of the genus; and the natives 
were positive no such bird was to be found in their country. The 
naturalists collecting for the Leyden Museum were not more suc- 
cessful; and recently a German ornithologist, Mr. Rosenberg, has 
resided some years in the island, and up to the time of my departure 
had seen no Pitta. This is the more remarkable, as in the little 
island of Banda, within sight of Ceram, a species exists which, with 
two others, I now proceed to describe. 
PITTA RUBRINUCHA. 
Head reddish brown, darker behind, where there is a subquadran- 
gular spot of bright red, and above it an obscure blue vertical stripe ; 
back dull olive-green, shading into slaty blue on the wings and tail ; 
quills blackish, with a white spot on the third and fourth; a small 
white spot on the shoulder; underside with the slaty-blue breast 
and crimson belly, exactly as in P. celebensis, but the black line 
separating the two colours is narrower. Bill blackish horn-colour ; 
feet light dull blue; iris pale olive-brown. 
Total length 7 inches ; wing 3$ inches ; bill, from the gape, 1 inch. 
Hab. Island of Bouru (Moluccas). 
Remark.—This species is at once distinguished from its near 
ally, P. celebensis, by the red nuchal spot, and by having much less 
blue on the wing- and tail-coverts. It is also considerably smaller. 
* See Temminck and Siebold’s ‘ Fauna Japonica,’ 
