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PITTA OATESL 
OATES PITTA. 
Hydrornis oatesi, Hume, Str. Feath. vol. i. 1873, p. 477; vol. viii. 1879, p. 93.—Blyth, B. Burm. 1875, 
р. 98.—Hume & Dav. Str. Feath. vol. vi. 1878, p. 237.—Oates, Str. Feath. vol. x. 1882, p. 204. 
no. 187 (Pegu).—Id. B. Brit. Burm. vol. i. 1883, p. 411.—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. ser. 2, 
vol. v. 1887-88, p. 574.—Sclat. Cat. B. vol. xiv. 1888, p. 416. 
HanrrAT.—Pegu and Tenasserim. 
Male. “ Upper part of head, nape, and mantle rich reddish brown ; cheeks, ear-coverts, and the entire lower 
plumage pale reddish brown, clearest on the throat; a black spot on either side the neck, behind the 
ear-coverts, not always visible ; across the breast a band of feathers having their bases black, and 
showing more or less in different specimens ; back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and central tail-feathers 
dull green, tinged with blue on the rump and tail; lateral tail-feathers greenish brown; wings rusty, 
with a tinge of green on the secondaries and tertiaries ; upper wing-coverts greenish rusty, some of 
the feathers tipped with fulvous. Upper mandible brown, the tips and edges salmon-colour ; lower 
mandible brown, gape salmon-colour ; inside of mouth flesh-colour ; iris rich brown ; eyelids plumbeous ; 
legs and claws pinkish flesh-colour. Length 10 inches, tail 9:6, wing 4'8, tarsus 2:1, bill from gape 1:4. 
“The female is scarcely distinguishable from the male ; the back is a trifle less green and the tinge of blue 
on the rump is wanting.” (Oates.) 
This near ally of P. nepalensis was described by Mr. Hume, /. c., and named after 
its discoverer, Mr. ites, who found it in the eastern Pegu Hills. It differs from the 
Nepal Pitta in having the front, top, and back of head rich rufous, and in not having 
the nuchal patch (blue in the male and green in the female) possessed by its ally. 
The sexes of the present species are alike in plumage, the male being only a little 
lighter on the back and rump. 
According to Mr. Oates, this Pitta is common in the evergreen forests between 
Tonghoo and Thayetmyo, and not at all shy. It has a call like a double whistle, which 
is frequently heard at night and also in the evening when it comes to drink. It resorts 
to the gloomiest ravines, where the sun rarely penetrates even at mid-day, and feeds 
upon worms and insects, and seldom leaves the ground, except to mount on a fallen 
trunk or low branch. The eye is large and soft. 
Mr. Davison afterwards met with Oates’ Pitta in Tenasserim, in thin tree-jungle at 
the base of the south-western spurs of Mooleyit up to 5000 feet elevation. He never 
saw it light on any tree or bush, but when disturbed it flies for a short distance and 
then drops upon the ground. 
It is very industrious, turning over dry leaves in search of food, which, he says, 
lí of insects, grubs, slugs, small shells, and ants. According to Oates, this bird 
is likely to be found throughout Pegu and Tenasserim, wherever there are damp ever- 
green forests, and probably extends its range into Siam. 
