PITTA CELEBENSIS. 
GELEBES PITIA. 
Pitta celebensis, Müll. & Schleg. Verh. Natuur. Geschied. Ned. overz. Bezitt., Zool. Pitta, 1839-44, pp. 18, 
20.— Gray, Gen. В. vol. i. 1846, p. 213.— Westerm. Bijdr. t. d. Dierk. vol. i. 1854, Pitta, p. 46, 
pl. 3.— Wall. Ibis, 1860, p. 142; 1864, р. 106.—Schleg. Vog. Ned. Ind. 1863, Pitta, pp. 17, 34, 
pl. 4. fig. 4 (Tondano, Celebes).—Id. Mus. P.-Bas, Pitta, 1863, р. 6; 1874, p. 10 (partim).—Salvad. 
Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vol. уй. 1875, p. 663.—Brügg. Abh. nat. Ver. Brem. vol. v. 1877, p. 64 
(Celebes).—Gould, В. New Guin. vol. iv. pl. 34.—Guillem. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1885, p. 552 
(Celebes).—Sclat. Cat. В. vol. xiv. 1888, p. 436.—Blas. Ornis, vol. iv. 1888, pp. 602, 638, 646. 
Brachyurus celebensis, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. vol. i. 1850, p. 255.—Elliot, Ibis, 1870, p. 418. 
Erythropitta celebensis, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. 1854, p. 7. по. 188.—Meyer, Ibis, 1879, p. 126. 
Brachyurus (Erythropitta) celebensis, Elliot, Mon. Pitt. 1863, pl. xvii. 
Hasirat.—Celebes, Menado, January to July; Togian Islands, August; near Segeri, S. Celebes, 
September (Meyer). 
Head reddish-brown, lighter on the sides, with a blue stripe on the crown; back green; wings, rump, and 
tail dark blue; primaries black, with a white central spot. Throat rufous above, terminating below 
in black; a broad blue band across the breast, bordered on the sides with green and with a broad black 
band beneath; abdomen and lower tail-coverts red. Bill brownish-black; iris greyish-brown; feet 
greyish-black. Length 7 inches, wing 4, tail 11. 
This red-bellied Pitta has only been found upon the large island of Celebes, where it 
does not appear to be uncommon in certain parts. It, together with P. rubrinucha, is 
distinguished from the other members of the subgeneric group to which it belongs by 
having a conspicuous blue stripe on the crown. Dr. Meyer, who has had opportunities of 
observing this species in its native country, states that, although not so difficult to obtain 
as P. forsteni, it is very quiet by day and seldom calls except at morning and evening. 
Its note is like * tZ tehw.” Im the evening it has a cry like “oppo,” which is uttered 
by both sexes to call each other, and the natives say that child which was once lost in the 
forest was changed into this bird, and now always calls for its “ erandfather,” which is the 
meaning of “oppo.” It isa very shy and watchful species, glides noiselessly through the 
leaves, which assimilate with its green back and make it difficult to be detected. Its 
pursuer must creep through the thickest bushes, and without imitating its call its capture 
18 сме. A good imitation of its cry will draw the bird close to the hunter. During 
the day it is usually solitary, but keeps in pairs in the evening. A hole is dug in the slope 
of a river-bank, in which the nest is built of twigs and leaves, and lined with cotton or 
hairy plant materials. The female lays two eggs, and while she is sitting the male watches 
near by and takes her place when she seeks food. This Pitta feeds on beetles, small 
caterpillars, &c. The colours of the young bird are pale, and the plumage of the female 
is not so brilliant as that of the male. 
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