PITTA FORSTENL 
FORSTEN'S- PITTA. 
Pitta melanocephala (nec Wagler), Müll. & Schleg. Verh. Natuur. Geschied. Ned. overz. Bezitt., Zool. Pitta, 
1839-44, p. 19 (Celebes).—Gray, Gen. В. vol. i. 1846, p. 214.—Westerm. Bijdr. t. d. Dierk. 
vol. i. 1854, Pitta, p. 46, pl. 2.—Schleg. Vog. Neder. Ind., Pitta, 1863, p- 30, pl. 2. fig. aa 
Id. Mus. Pays-B., Pitta, 1863, p. 4; 1874, p. 9 (Celebes).— Wall. Ibis, 1864, p. 106. 
Brachyurus forsteni, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. vol. i. 1850, р. 256.—Elliot, Ibis, 1870, p. 419. 
Melanopitta forsteni, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anisod. 1854, p- 7. no. 195.—Meyer, Ibis, 1879, p. 126. 
Brachyurus (Melanopitta) forsteni, Elliot, Mon. Pitt. 1863, pl. xxiv. 
Pitta forsteni, Gould, В. New Guin. vol. iv. pl. 30.—-Sclat. Cat: B. vol. xiv. 1888; р. 442 (Celebes).— 
Whitehead, Ibis, 1893, p. 499. 
HABITAT.—Celebes. 
Head, neck, and throat black ; back and wings dark green ; lesser wing- and upper tail-coverts pale blue ; 
primaries all black, axillaries black ; underparts green, paler than the back; abdomen with a black 
median patch; lower abdomen and under tail-coverts scarlet. Tail green. Bill black; feet and 
tarsi pale brown. Length 73 inches, wing 44, tail 13. 
Forsten first obtained this species in the Island of Celebes, and Müller and Schlegel, 
l. c., called it Pitta melanocephala. As this was a synonym already of Pitta sordida, it 
could not be adopted, and Bonaparte, l. c., renamed the species forsteni, after its 
discoverer. It is distinguished from nearly all the black-headed Pittas by having the 
primaries all black, without a white speeulum—the only other Pittas resembling .it in 
this respect being Pitta méfoorana, and examples of P. atricapilla, Quoy & Gaim., from 
Wanumbai, which also appear to be without a speculum ; but these two species could 
not easily be confounded with their relatives, as the metallic hues on their breasts 
readily distinguish them. 
Dr. Meyer also obtained this bird in Celebes, and in a communication to Mr. Gould, 
published in the * Birds of New Guinea,’ he states that “ all Pittas are said to be rare birds 
everywhere, and are only met with singly or a pair at a time. I met with but one Pitta 
that was plentiful, viz. P. rosenbergi, on the Island of Mysore in the north of Geelvink 
Bay. Besides the black-headed Pittas are still rarer than the red-bellied Pittas. In the 
northern parts of Celebes I did not procure a single specimen of P. forsteni so far as I 
remember, and also am not aware that specimens collected by any one else have reached 
Europe from there, whereas P. celebensis appeared to be less rare than in the northern 
parts. Here I got specimens of P. forsteni in the Minahassa and in the district of 
Gorontalo. Pittas are shy birds, but their flute-like cry once heard, the specimen can 
always be got with patience and quietness ; imitating its voice, the bird can be called 
up till it is close to the hunter's gun. The rareness of the Black-headed Pitta on 
Celebes is proved by the fact that its colours shelter it even less than the colours of 
Р. celebensis shelter that species; as the bright blue shoulder-patch of P. forsteni always 
glitters on the ground, which it never quits. The colour of the iris is dark, the feet 
dusky, bill black. It feeds on insects of all kinds. Its name in the Minahassa is ‘ Mopo 
idin,’ or “Green Моро.” 
