_ PLETA STEBILLI, 
SIERRES PITIA. 
Brachyurus steerii, Sharpe, Nature, vol. xiv. 1876, p. 297.—Id. Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Zool. vol. i. p. 329, 
pl. xlix. (Dumalon, Mindanao). E 
Melanopitta steerii, Tweedd. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, p. 949 (Zamboanga).—Wardlaw-Ramsay, App. Mem. 
Tweedd. 1881, p. 657. 
Pitta steerii, Gould, B. Asia, vol. v. pl. 74.—Sclat. Cat. В. vol. xiv. 1888, p. 442 (Philippines). 
Cyanopitta steerü, Gould, Mon. Pitt. pl. 8. 
Hasirat.—Zamboanga (Everett); Samar. Dumalon, Mindanao (Steere). 
Head and nape jet-black; back and wings dark glossy green; shoulders and upper tail-coverts silvery 
blue; greater coverts black on inner, blue on outer webs, and edged with silvery blue; primaries 
black, with a white central spot on 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Axillaries black. Tail black. Throat 
white. Underparts pale blue, with a greenish tinge in certain lights. Centre of abdomen velvety 
black; under tail-coverts scarlet. Bill black; feet and tarsi flesh-colour; eyes black. Length 
i inches, wing 42, tail 11, culmen 1, tarsus 11. 
This truly fine species, nearly equal in size to the largest member of the family, was 
discovered by Prof. J. B. Steere at Dumalon, Mindanao, one of the Philippine Islands, 
and described by Dr. Sharpe, /. c., in whose hands Prof. Steere placed his large collection 
of birds on his arrival in London from the expedition to the East Indies, and permitted 
him to describe the novelties it contained. There is no species with which this beautiful 
Pitta can be compared, as it differs entirely from all others known. Its pale blue breast 
and white throat distinguish it from all the black-headed members of the genus. An 
apparently young bird was also obtained in the same locality, which differs in having the 
belly a pale scarlet, only black in certain parts. At first Prof. Steere did not think it 
was very rare in the neighbourhood of the village of Dumalon, as he procured some 
other examples which were unfortunately destroyed. This opinion, however, he seems 
to have changed afterwards, for in a letter to myself he writes that Pitta steerii must be 
a very rare form, as during our last expedition (the second one he made to the Philip- 
pines) we procured but two, one from Zamboanga, the other from Samar, so that it 
must have a pretty wide distribution. He continues by stating that he procured many 
specimens of P. erythrozastra and P. sordida. In Samar this species appears also to 
be rare, as five or six hunters only obtained one specimen in a stay of four weeks. 
Its large size and peculiar coloration would be likely to make it a rather conspicuous 
object in the places it frequents, and if it was in any way abundant, more examples 
would have found their way into collections than are at present seen, so Prof. Steere’s 
opinion as to its rarity is probably correct. It is not to be imagined, however, that 
we as yet are acquainted with its distribution, and probably other localities, which may 
be regarded more as the true habitat of the species, may be discovered, and where it will 
be found comparatively abundant. 
The figures in the Plate represent the adult bird, and the immature example mentioned 
by Dr. Sharpe with the pale scarlet on the belly and now in the British Museum. 
Both specimens were obtained by Prof. Steere in his expedition to the Kast Indies. 
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