PITTA STEERII. 



Steele's Pitta. 



Brachyurus steerii, Sharpe, Nature, August 3, 1876. 





Of all the fine birds brought to light by Dr. Steere's Expedition to the Philippine Islands, this is de- 

 cidedly one of the most striking (his grandest novelty being, of course, the Sarcophanops steerii). Not 

 only is this new Pitta one of the largest of the family, filling not far short of the well-known Pitta 

 maxima in size, but it is also perfectly distinct as regards its coloration ; for there is no species which 

 is blue underneath as the present bird is. From its black head, it ought to be associated with the 

 group called by Bonaparte Melanopitta ; but from all these it is easily distinguished by its unique coloration. 



Dr. Steere discovered this Pitta in the Province of Zamboanga in the large island of Mindanao. He 

 stayed for some time hunting in the neighbourhood of Zamboanga and Dumalon ; and he procured 

 several new species of birds during his residence in that island. It was in the forests adjoining the 

 above-mentioned places that he met with this beautiful Pitta. 



The following is a description of the typical specimens: — 



Above dull green, with a shade of brighter grass-green under certain lights ; wing-coverts silvery cobalt, 

 forming a large shoulder-patch ; bastard wing, primary-coverts, and greater coverts black, the latter blue 

 at the ends, the innermost more or less green on the inner webs ; primaries black, greenish towards the 

 ends of the outer webs of the shorter ones, the secondaries more and more green on the outer webs as 

 they approach the innermost, which are entirely green, the third to the seventh primaries having a large 

 white spot forming an alar speculum ; upper tail-coverts silvery cobalt, forming a band across the lower 

 rump, some of the upper tail-coverts black ; tail black ; crown of head, nape, and sides of face black ; 

 cheeks and throat white, rest of under surface of body light blue, the centre of the abdomen black ; under 

 wing-coverts black. 



Another specimen, apparently a somewhat younger bird, was also procured by Dr. Steere, and had the 

 lower part of the belly pale vermilion. 



I am under the greatest obligation to Dr. Steere for his kindness in lending me so many of his rare birds. 

 The figures in the Plate represent the only two specimens of this Pitta procured by him, and are of the size 

 of life. 





H MB 



