2 
Pitta sordida, Meyer, in Rowl. Ornith. Misc. vol. ii. 1877, р. 330 (Luzon, Negros).—Sharpe, Ibis, 1884, 
р. 321 (Palawan).—Blas. Ornis, vol. iv. 1888, pp. 314, 598 (Palawan).—Whitehead, Ibis, 1890, 
p. 49 (Palawan).—Elliot, Auk, 1890, p. 357 (Borneo). 
HanrrAT.—Sumatra, Banka, Borneo, Sanghir, and Philippine Islands. 
Male. Head and neck all around jet-black ; back and wings dark green; lesser wing-coverts and upper 
tail-coverts shining blue; under wing-coverts black. Primaries white, tipped with black. Tail 
black, edged with blue. Underparts lisht green, with a black spot on the abdomen mixed with red; 
belly and under tail-coverts scarlet. Bill black; feet cloudy blue; legs pale; iris dark brown. 
Length 6:5 inches, wing 4'5, tail 1:4. 
Female is like the adult male above described, except that there is much less extent of white on the 
primaries. 
Young differs considerably from the adults. “ Above dull brownish green; rump light blue; head rusty 
brown; cheeks, nape, and sides of head rusty black, forming a distinct ring round the back of the 
head; throat dusky black, with broad white bands stretching across to the sides of the neck; 
chest rusty brown ; abdomen and under tail-coverts pale pink. Wings as in the adult, but without 
the bright shoulder-patch, which is greenish blue, with the outermost feathers centred with white, 
forming a distinct band." (Whitehead; specimen from Palawan.) 
This species was described by P. L. S. Müller, |, c., from Buffon’s plate of the 
Breve des Philippines, and named Turdus sordidus, and this name antedates all others. 
Brisson, who was the first ornithologist to notice this species, l. e., states that his 
specimen was sent to the Abbé Aubrey from the Moluccas. This was apparently the 
same example which Buffon afterwards figured, giving the Philippines as its habitat. 
Levaillant, who is not noted for extreme accuracy, asserted m the Ois. Par. l. e., 
that this specimen was the Brève de Ceylon (P. brachyura, Linn.), on the body of 
which the head of a Common Blackbird had been placed; and this statement was 
repeated by Cuvier on Levaillant’s authority, and also by Vieillot without giving any 
authority. Wagler, l. e., however, showed Levaillant was in error, and Cuvier, l. e., 
also corrected this mistake. Buffon states that the bird he described and figured is the 
same as Brisson’s “57th Grive.” Lord Walden m the ‘Transactions of the Zoological 
Society,” vol. ix. p. 188, has fully demonstrated and. cleared up the confused state of 
affairs above mentioned. Не adds that Buffon’s bird was “undoubtedly a Philippine 
example.” 
The bird from Borneo has been generally kept distinct as P. mülleri, Bonaparte, 
mainly for the reason that 1t had more white on the primaries; and Dr. Sharpe in 
the ‘Transactions of the Linnean Society,’ 1877, 4. c., also states that the Bornean bird 
‘almost entirely wants the black patch on the belly, and has the thighs blackish 
instead of ochraceous brown.” | 
It has been clearly proven by sexed examples procured by Mr. Everett and by 
Dr. Meyer, that the extent of white is a sexual character, the females possessing much 
less than the males. Of nine males and five females dissected by Mr. Everett, the 
