tern Bros: x 
ANTHOCINCLA PHAYREI. 
ГОТАР Э PITTA 
Anthocincla phayrei, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. хххі. 1863, р. 343 (Tonghoo).—Id. В. Burm. 1875, 
р. 100.—Hume, Str. Feath. 1875, vol. iii. p. 109, pl. ii. (Upper Pegu). 
Anthocincla phayru, Hume, Str. Feath. 1879, vol. viii. p. 94.—Bingh. Str. Feath. vol. ix. 1880, pp. 177, 474 
(Hporrlai, British Burmah); Oates, В. Brit. Burm. 1883, vol. i. p. 420.—Sclat. Cat. B. vol. xiv. 
1888, p. 413 (Tenasserim and Karen Hills). 
Hagirar.—Upper Pegu, Tenasserim, and Karen Hills. 
Male. A central black line on top of the head, reaching and covering the nape. Either side of this line 
rufescent buff, the feathers margined with black and having a black bar near their base. Lores and 
sides of face to nape black. Superciliaries, ending in lengthened pointed feathers extending sometimes 
an inch beyond the occiput, white with black bars. Entire upper part and wings rufescent brown. 
Primaries and their greater coverts blackish brown, a buff bar at the base of the former. Tail 
rufescent brown. Chin and middle of throat white ; sides of throat, abdomen, and flanks ferruginous 
brown, with black spots on sides of throat and flanks. Lower tail-coverts pale vermilion. Bill 
black, mandible reddish brown at gape. Iris deep brown; feet and claws flesh-colour. 
Female has breast and sides more densely spotted with black ; ear-coverts same colour as the back, pencilled 
with black; head and occiput also like the back. The lengthened superciliary feathers are shorter 
and less pure white, and the under tail-coverts paler. In other respects the plumage is like that of the 
male. 
Length 8:82-9 inches, wing 3:9-4:12, tarsus 1:2-1:25, bill 1*4, tail 2°5-2°35. Fine adult male: length 8:82, 
wing 4:12, tail from vent 2°5, tarsus 1:25, bill from gape 1:4. Weight 3 ounces. (Hume.) 
This very peculiar Pitta was discovered by Sir Arthur Phayre in the Tonghoo District in 
British Burmah, and described by Blyth, /. e. It is remarkable for the elongated feathers 
on the side of the head, which project fully an inch behind the occiput, differing in the 
possession of this style of ornamentation from all the other known members of this family. 
In its general form, and also in its habits, it bears a very close resemblance to other species 
of Pitta. Mr. Bingham obtained it on the Meplay river, Thoungyeen Valley, Tenasserim, 
and he gives us about all the information we possess of this singular species. He states 
that it is excessively rare, and that on the 5th April, 1879, he saw two of these birds 
trotting along with sticks in their bills as if intent on building a nest. He failed to 
discover this, however, and after watching them for quite a long time he shot one of the 
birds, which proved to be a male. The two individuals were alike in plumage, and he 
believed that they were male and female. 
In Aprıl 1881 he again met with the species near the small Karen hamlet of Hporrlai, 
on the Meplay river. While walking towards evening near some dense evergreen bushes, 
his attention was attracted by something moving, and presently he saw a Pitta scratching 
among the leaves on the ground. He shot it, and the report of his gun flushed another 
individual, of which, however, he only obtained a passing glance. Thinking these two 
might be of opposite sexes he searched for a nest, and soon discovered a little oven-shaped 
structure on the ground at the foot of a tree, formed of leaves, roots, and grasses, and 
