246 LOMBOCK. [chap. x. 



so shy that it was very difficult to get a shot at them, and 

 it was only after a good deal of practice that I discovered 

 how to do it. The habit of these birds is to hop about 

 on the ground, picking up insects, and on the least alarm 

 to run into the densest thicket or take a flight close along 

 the ground. At intervals they utter a peculiar cry of two 

 notes which when once heard is easily recognised, and 

 they can also be heard hopping along among the dry 

 leaves. My practice was, therefore, to walk cautiously 

 along the narrow pathways with which the country 

 abounded, and on detecting any sign of a Pitta's vicinity 

 to stand motionless and give a gentle whistle occasionally, 

 imitating the notes as near as possible. After half an 

 hour's waiting I was often rewarded by seeing the pretty 

 bird hopping along in the thicket. Then I would perhaps 

 lose sight of it again, till, having my gun raised and ready 

 for a shot, a second glimpse would enable me to secure my 

 prize, and admire its soft puffy plumage and lovely colours. 

 The upper part is rich soft green, the head jet black with 

 a stripe of blue and brown over each eye ; at the base of 

 the tail and on the shoulders are bands of bright silvery 

 blue, and the under side is delicate buff with a stripe of 

 rich crimson, bordered with black on the belly. Beautiful 

 grass-green doves, little crimson and black flower-peckers, 

 large black cuckoos, metallic king-crows, golden orioles, 

 and the fine jungle-cocks — the origin of all our domestic 



