PITTA KOCKI. 
RUCK S. PIFIA 
Pitta, kocki, Brüggem. Abhandl. nat. Ver. Bremen, vol. v. 1877, p. 65, pl. iii. fig. 6 (Luzon).—Oust. Bull. 
Soc. Philom. ser. 7, vol. vi. p. 256, desc. juv.—Gould, B. Asia, vol v. pl. 71.—Sclat. Cat. B. 
vol. xiv. 1888, p. 433. 
Erythropitta kocki, Tweed. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, p. 430, pl. xxvi.—Wardlaw-Ramsay, Mem. Tweedd. 
Append. 1881, p. 657. 
Hasrtat.—Luzon, Philippines (Oothberg, Marche). 
Forehead, crown, lores, and ear-coverts dark olive-brown; occiput and nape pale red; a rather broad 
ashy-brown stripe from gape extends beneath ear-coverts and nearly to the паре; back olive-brown. 
Primaries blackish-brown, greyish at their tips, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th with a large white central spot; 
secondaries and greater coverts pale blue on outer webs, olive-brown on inner; under wing-coverts 
black ; upper tail-coverts lilac-grey. Tail blue; centre of throat rufous-brown, sides blackish-brown ; 
a broad pale blue band across upper part of breast ; flanks olive-brown ; abdomen scarlet, the centre 
olive-brown ; under tail-coverts also scarlet, the longer ones edged and tipped with lilac-blue. 
Bill black ; feet and tarsi flesh-colour. Length 72 inches, wing 43, tail 24, culmen 14, tarsus 2. 
The young bird has been minutely described by Dr. Oustalet, /. c., as follows :—The young Pitta kocki 
differs notably from the adult. The head is varied with light and dark brown, each feather 
wood-colour bordered with vandyke brown, giving a scaly appearance to this part; the brown 
turns to red near the nape; above the ears and around the eyes the feathers are crossed with red 
and brown; the reddish bar on sides of neck in the adult is indicated by a series of small buff 
feathers edged with light brown; the chin, throat, and upper part of breast are covered with white 
and red feathers bordered with very dark brown, but on the breast already appears ashy-blue 
feathers, the first vestige of the blue bar in the adult; flanks olive; some red feathers are visible 
on the abdomen near the legs and on the under tail-coverts; mantle reddish-olive; primaries dark 
brown, with a large white spot on the inner web of the 3rd and 4th and a smaller one on the 2nd. 
Tail black, glossed above with blue, beneath ashy. Bill horn-brown, with some yellowish on mandible. 
Feet brown, nails whitish. Length 215 mm., wing 115, bill at culmen 23, tarsus 49. The description 
was taken from a specimen killed by M. Marché in Luzon, and now in the Paris Museum. 
Kock's Pitta is nearly equal in size to Pitta nepalensis, and is altogether the largest of 
the species belonging to the red-breasted group of this Family. The type, which came 
from Luzon, was described by Dr. Brüggemann, and named in honour of Dr. Kock, the 
Director of the Darmstadt Museum, in ur institution it is now deposited. It is the 
second species known to inhabit the island of Luzon, the other being Pitta erythrogastra, 
also belonging to the red-breasted group. The type and the young bird described by 
Dr. Oustalet are the only specimens that have been obtained, so far as I am aware, 
up to the present time. It must, however, be a conspicuous object in its native 
haunts from its large size and bright colours, and would not be likely to escape the 
pursuit of an energetic collector. Nothing is known of its economy or habits. 
