1862.] MR. A. R. WALLACE ON NEW SPECIES OF PITTA. 187 



being found in Japan was the Indian TJrsus torquatus (sive tibeta- 

 mis)*. These young Bears appeared to be distinct from the Indian 

 species, resembling in some respects rather the American Ursus 

 amencanus. There were shght 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 TJrsm 

 japonicus. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Descriptions of Three New Species of Pitta from the 

 Moluccas. By Alfred Russel Wallace. 



These birds are brought before the Society, detached from the 

 collections of which they form a part, because a Monograph of the 

 Pittidce, 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 rubrinxjcha. 



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. eelebensis, 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 3f inches ; bill, from the gape, 1 inch. 



Hab. Island of Bouru (Moluccas). 



Remark. — This species is at once distinguished from its near 

 ally, P. eelebensis, 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.' 



