22 AVES. 



brown with tlie shafts of yellowish white, which gives them a bristly 

 appearance. 



Wings; light broAvn, the inner part of the quills being darker than 

 the exposed edges and the rest of the wing. 



Tail ; chesnut, the feathers of the upper tail-covers are thick and 

 soft. 



Length, about 6^ inches. 



„ of bill from gape, 8^ lines. 



„ of bill from front, 7^ lines. 



,, of wings, Sj inches. 



„ of tail, 2 k inches. 



,, of tarsus, D lines. 



„ of middle toe, 74 lines. 



„ of hallux, G lines. 



We have two specimens of this species, one of which is rather 

 smaller than the other. This difference is probably due to sex. 



In their habits these birds somewhat resemble our European 

 Creepers, excepting that they feed together in small flocks ; 

 their food appears to consist entirely of insects, and when feed- 

 ing they are so intent upon their work as to allow of a very 

 near approach; they haunt low jungle, and are easily recognised 

 by their peculiar flight in lowering themselves, which they.effect 

 by flying perpendicularly down. They occasionally utter a 

 low inward song something like that of a Wood-lark before he 

 begins to sing. 



Gen. Pitta. 

 Pitta cyanoptera (Teinm.). 



Above ; back green, tail-covers vivid blue, head black, forehead 

 brown, whence a stripe of light brown extends over each eye to the 

 hind head. 



Below ; raw sienna colour, with the tail-co\ers and the centre of 

 the belly vermilion-red, upper throat yellowish white. 



Wings ; above, scapularies green, covers vivid blue, the base of the 

 feathers being blue-green ; the base and tips of the primaries black, the 

 centre pure white ; the secondaries are black, externally edged with 

 dusky blue at the upper part — the wings below are black with a 

 broad band of pure white. 



Tail ; black, tipped with dull blue. 

 Length, 8^ inches. 



„ of bill from gape, 1 inch 3 lines. 

 „ of bill from front, 1 inch. 

 „ of wings, 4|^ inches. 

 „ of tail, If inch. 



