PITTA ROSENBERGI 
VON ROSENBERG'S PITTA. 
Pitta rosenbergi, Schleg. Neder. Tijdschr. vol. iv. 1873, р. 16.—Id. Mus. P.-Bas, 1874, р. 8.—Rosenb. Reist, 
naar de Geelv. 1875, р. 138.—Becc. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vol. viii. 1875, p. 709.—Id. Ibis, 1876, 
p. 247.—Gould, B. New Guin. vol. iv. pl. 37.—Meyer, in Rowl. Orn. Misc. vol. ii. 1877, p. 264, 
pl. Ixii.—Rosenb. Malay Arch. 1879, pp. 554, 585.—Legge, B. Ceylon, 1879, p. 689.—Meyer, Ibis, 
1879, р. 126.—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vol. xvi. 1880, p. 184.—Id. Ornit. Papuas. vol. ii. 
1881, p. 387.—Sclat. Cat. B. vol. xiv. 1888, р. 441. 
Hasırar.—Island of Mysore. 
Head and neck jet-black, Upper surface and wings olive-green. Chest brownish olive-green, passing into 
deep blue on the flanks. Centre of abdomen and under tail-coverts scarlet. Primaries black, with a 
central white spot. Lesser wing-coverts and rump silvery green. Upper tail-coverts and tail black, 
the latter edged with green. Bill black; feet and tarsi greyish rose-colour. Iris brown. Length 
7 inches, wing 42, tail 14, tarsus 2, bill 12. 
Sexes alike in plumage. 
This bird has its closest ally in Pitta nove-guinee, Müll. & Schleg., but differs to such 
an extent that it may be deemed specifically distinct. Its distinguishing characteristics 
are :—absence of the metallic colouring on the breast, the central portion being red ; the 
blue of the flanks being much more pronounced ; the greater upper tail-coverts and tail 
black, tipped with green on the rectrices; and the absence of a black spot on the 
abdomen. 
Dr. Meyer, in Rowley’s <“ Ornithological Miscellany,’ /. e., states that this Pitta is one 
of the commonest birds on the island of Mysore, and he obtained a good series in 
April in the neighbourhood of Kordo. Its cry, which is flute-like, is not often heard ; 
but when it does utter its note, by imitating it the bird can be attracted close to the 
hunter. It is very shy, feeds upon the ground, and dwells in the deeper parts of the 
tropical forests. The sexes are alike in plumage. In the stomachs of those killed a 
few small inseets were found. 
Iris brown. Feet and claws of a greyish rose-colour in life. 
Rosenberg’s Pitta may be considered as the handsomest of the species belonging to the 
black-headed group of this family, the bright red of the underparts extending far upon 
the centre of the breast, together with the rich blue of the flanks, making it very 
conspicuous among its allies. 
The figures in the illustration are drawn from specimens in the British Museum, from 
Kordo, Mysore ; and the Bay of Geelvink, New Guinea. 
