PITTA ANGOLENSIS. 
AFRICAN PITTA. 
Pitta angolensis, Vieill. Ency. Méth. 1791, p. 685.—Id. Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat. vol. iv. 1816, p. 356.—Gray, 
Gen. В. vol. i. 1846, р. 213.—Hartl. Ornith. West-Afr. 1857, p. 74. no. 223.—Des Murs, Icon. 
Ornith. pl. 46.—Schleg. Mus. P.-Bas, Pitta, 1863, p. 12; 1874, p. 15.— Wall. Ibis, 1864, p. 105.— 
Sharpe, Ibis, 1869, p. 187 (Fantee).—Ussh. Ibis, 1874, p. 56 (Gold Coast).—Sclat. Cat. B. vol. xiv. 
1888, p. 422. 
Pitta pulih, Fraser, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1842, p. 190.—Allen & Thom. Niger Exp. vol. ii. p. 495.— Müll. & 
Schleg. Verh. Natuur. Geschied. Ned. Ind. overz. Bezitt., Zool. Pitta, 1839—44, p. 18. 
Brachyurus angolensis, Bon. Consp. Gen. Av. vol. i. 1850, p. 255. sp. 13.—Id. Consp. Voluc. Anis. 1854, 
р. 7. no. 186.— Elliot, Mon. Pitt. 1863, pl. v.—Id. Ibis, 1870, p. 414. 
HanrrAT.— Tropical Africa, West Coast. 
Adult. Top, sides of head, and nape black ; a rufous line from the nostrils runs over each eye, and nearly 
meets on the occiput. Back and wings green; lesser wing- and upper tail-coverts light blue; 
primaries black, tips greyish, and a white spot in the centre of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Throat rose- 
colour; breast and flanks buff, with a slight greenish shade; abdomen and under tail-coverts bright 
red. "Tail black, tipped with light blue. Bill horn-colour, black on the cutting-edge of the maxilla 
and mandible. Feet and tarsi flesh-colour. Length 7:5 inches, wing 4:3, tail 17. 
Described by Vieillot, 7. c., the African Pitta, the only representative of this family 
inhabiting that continent, has always remained a rather scarce bird in collections, and very 
little has been recorded about it. It is a remarkable fact in the geographical distribution 
of the species of Pitta, that one should be found upon the African continent, asall the other 
members are natives of the Oriental or Australian regions, and it is difficult to account 
for the existence of this solitary form in a region possessing such a different zoological fauna 
from those in which the rest of the species dwell. 
It is quite distinct from all other Pittas, and although exhibiting a general 
resemblance to the members of the buff-breasted group to which it belongs, it nevertheless 
possesses various characters that easily distinguish it from them all. 
Mr. Ussher, who obtained this species on the Gold Coast, states that it was diffieult to 
learn its habits, as the birds were rather scarce. It is found in grassy and rocky jungle, 
and seldom rises on the wing. He never had an opportunity to obtain a clear view of 
any individual, but once caught a glimpse of one as it ran into some thick cover with its 
head down like a Quail. The natives trap the birds, but by this method specimens are 
badly disfigured and the legs broken. The majority of the examples brought to him 
came from Denkera. 
