234 



THE I HP PER. OR WATER-OUSEL. 



its quaint and peculiar shape, its very large head, very long legs, and peculiarly short wren- 

 like tail, which looks exactly as if il had been neatly cropped, is one of the most singular 

 birds of that prolific locality. In size it equals a rook, but hardly looks so large as that well- 

 known bird, on account of the short tail, which is entirely covered by the wings when they 

 are closed. The general color of this brilliant bird is a light cobalt blue, which extends over 

 the whole of the back and tail, but is not quite so lustrous upon the wings. The quill-feathers 

 of the wings are black, tipped with sky-blue, and the head, the surface of the neck, together 

 with a stripe that runs partly round the neck, are also black, a darkish line is drawn through 

 the eyes, the throat is grayish-white, and the abdomen and lower surface of the body are 

 brownish-gray. In total length the bird measures about nine inches. 



The Short-tailed Pitta, so called from the extreme shortness of that member, is a 

 native of India, bein.u' most plentifully found in Bengal. 



XJ-A-J- 



SHOUT-TAILED ANT-THRUSH. Pitta bengaknds. 



It is a quick, lively bird upon the ground, rarely taking to flight except when absolutely 

 forced so to do, but moving with incredible rapidity over the earth. In its general habits 

 it differs nothing from the remainder of its kind. The plumage of this bird is remarkably 

 pretty, and notable on account of the' curious markings of the head and neck, and the beauti- 

 fully vivid coloring of the wings. 



The ground color of the bird is a soft mouse-brown, which is boldly marked with three 

 jet-black bands, one passing from the forehead over the top of the head to the nape of the 

 neck, and the other two passing from tin- gape through the eye, and joining the first band in 

 a kind of half-collar between the neck and shoulders. The central stripe suddenly widens 

 upon the crown of the head. Upon each shoulder and upon the basal portion of the tail are a 

 number of glittering verditer-green feathers, that gleam out in the light, and render it a most 

 conspicuous bird. The quill-feathers of the wings are dead black, except a white spot or bar 

 upon their coverts, forming an irregular band when the wing is spread. The throat is a light 

 brown, and the abdomen a pale mouse-color. 



The Ant-Thrushes find a European representative in the well-known Dipper, or Watetc- 

 OrsEL, of the river-banks. 



