Indian Birds 
Punjab, Assam, and Burma. Very common in 
S. India. (Illus. B. P., p. 80; also B. B., p. 62, 
and G. B., p. 40, and I. F., p. 128.) 
The Pittas, 109 
Pittas are unique birds. They are about the 
size of a quail and are characterised by their 
short tails and legs and their many-coloured 
plumage. They feed upon the ground, but 
when alarmed they take refuge in bushes. 
They are never seen far from cover. They 
have a cheery whistling song. 
109. Pitta brachyura: ‘The Indian Pitta. 
(F. 933), J- 345), CII.) 
The natives call this species the Naurang 
(nine colours) on account of its many colours. 
The crown is yellow tinged with orange and 
divided in the middle by a broad black band 
running from the beak to the nape of the neck, 
where it meets a broader black band that 
passes below the eye. The eyebrow is white. 
The back and shoulders are dull bluish green. 
There is a patch of pale blue feathers over the 
tail and a patch of the same colour on the wing. 
The feathers of the wing and tail are black 
tipped with blue. There is a white bar in the 
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