PASSERES. 



Series D. Formicarioid Passeres. 



Wing with 10 primaries, the first well developed and typically long, 

 (Cf. Wallace, Ibis, 1874, p. 413.) 



Fam. PITTID^E. 



Bill moderately stout and straight, notched at the tip ; gape smooth. Wings very ample, 

 proportionately long, with the secondaries lengthened. Tail of 12 feathers, very short, scarcely 

 exceeding the tarsus ; under tail-coverts lengthened. Tarsus long. 



Of terrestrial habit. 



Genus PITTA. 

 With the characters of the family. Bill scarcely compressed ; gonys somewhat deep ; 

 nostrils oval and oblique, exposed ; culmen keeled and greatly curved to the tip. Wings with 

 the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quills nearly equal ; the 3rd usually the longest ; the 1st shorter than the 

 5th. Tail rounded. Tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw, shielded in front with wide, 

 smooth, transverse scales ; toes short, middle toe considerably exceeding the lateral ones, of 

 which the outer is the longer ; hind toe rather long, its claw curved. 



PITTA COKONATA. 



(THE INDIAN PITTA.) 



Turdus coronatus, P. L. S. Midler, Natursyst. Anhang, p. 144 (1766). 



Corvus brachyurus, var. bengalensis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 376 (1788). 



Turdus triostegus, Sparrm. Mus. Carls, fasc. iv. pi. 84 (1788). 



Pitta brachyura, Gould, Cent. Him. Birds, pi. 23 (1832) ; Jerdon, Cat. B. S. India, Madr. 



Journ. 1839, x. p. 251 ; Kelaart, Prodromus, Cat. p. 122 (1852) ; Layard, Ann. & 



Mag. Nat. Hist. 1853, xii. p. 269 ; Holdsw. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 445 ; Ball, Str. Feath. 



1878, vii. p. 213. 

 Pitta triostegus (Sparrm.), Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 157 (1849). 

 Pitta bengalensis (Gm.), Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E. I. Co. i. p. 184 (1854) ; Jerdon, 



B. of Ind. i. p. 503 (1862) ; id. Ibis, 1872, p. 133. 

 Brachyurus bengalensis (Gm.), Elliot, Mon. Pittidte, pi. iv. (1863). 

 Brachyurus coronatus (Midler), Elliot, Ibis, 1870, p. 414. 

 Pitta coronata, Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 224 (1873); Ball, Str. Feath. 1874, p. 406; 



