кеін” 
PITTA CYANONOTA. 
GRATIS PITTA. 
Pitta cyanonota, G. R. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1860, р. 351 (Ternate).—Schleg. Vog. Neder. Ind., Pitta, 1863, 
pp. 18, 35 (Ternate).—Id. Mus. Pays-B., Pitta, 1863, p. 8; 1874, р. 13 (Ternate, Guebéh).—Id. 
Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. vol. iii. 1866, p. 188; vol. iv. 1871, p. 15.— Wall. Ibis, 1864, pp. 105, 106.— 
Finsch, Neu-Guin. 1865, p. 165.—Bernst. Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. vol. ii. 1865, p. 374.—Rosenb. 
Reist. naar Geelv. 1875, p. 7.—1d. Malay. Archip. 1879, p. 406.—Legge, B. Ceylon, 1879, p. 689.— 
Gould, B. N. Guin. vol. iv. pl. 29.—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vol. xvi. 1880, p. 185. no. 11.— 
Id. Orn. Papuas. vol. ii. 1881, p. 402 (Ternate).—Sclat. Cat. B. vol. xiv. 1888, p. 435 (Ternate, 
Guebéh).— Whitehead, Ibis, 1893, р. 505. 
Brachyurus cyanonotus, Elliot, Mon. Pitt. 1863, pl. xx.—Id. Ibis, 1870, p. 418. 
Pitta finschi, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vol. ix. 1884, p. 864 (Astrolabe Range).—Salvad. Ann. 
Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Gen. ser. 2, vol. ix. 1889-90, p. 579. 
Hasırar.—Ternate and Guebéh (Schlegel).—Astrolabe Range, New Guinea (Ramsay). 
Top and back of head and hind neck reddish-brown ; sides of head and throat lighter brown, streaked with 
brownish-black ; back, wings, and tail blue ; primaries black, with white central spot, and white spot 
on shoulder of wing ; throat blackish-brown ; a broad blue band across upper part of breast, bordeved 
above and beneath with black. Flanks blue; entire rest of underparts crimson. Bill black ; feet and 
tarsi greyish-blue. 
Young. Top of head and hind neck reddish-brown, graduating into pale olive-brown on the back and 
rump. Wings dark olive-brown. A few whitish spots on the forehead. "Throat whitish, streaked 
with dark brown, bordered beneath with a whitish band. Underparts rufous-brown, with central 
white streaks on the feathers. Under tail-coverts pale red. "Tail dull blue. Bill blaek, with tip and 
basal part yellow ; feet flesh-colour. 
This red-breasted Pitta was discovered by Mr. Wallace in Ternate, and described by 
Gray, l. с. Bernstein and von Rosenberg afterwards procured a large series, and it was 
supposed to be confined to Ternate, until Bernstein obtained it m Guebéh. In the first- 
named island it was found throughout the year, and in May von Rosenberg took two 
nestlings, but it does not appear that he discovered either nest or eggs. 
I place among the synonyms of this species Pitta finschi, Ramsay, stated to have been 
obtained in. the Astrolabe Range, as I cannot perceive from his description that it is in 
any way different from Pitta cyanonota. Specimens with the sides of the chest and 
interscapular region oil-green, coming from the same locality, and which Dr. Ramsay 
thought were females, were determined by Dr. Finsch to be Pitta mackloti. 
"This species gives another example of the singular geographical distribution witnessed 
among the members of this Family; as it inhabits Ternate on the west and Guebéh on 
the east of Halmaheira, while in the last-named island the red-breasted species is Pitta 
rufiventris ; and if my determination of Ramsay's specimen is correct, we have it along 
with Pitta mackloti dwelling in the Astrolabe Range. Such eccentricities of habitats are 
diffieult to explain, but they present themselves for our consideration. very frequently 
among the Pitte. 
