EUCICHLA GURNEYI. 
GURNEY S. PITTA. 
Pitta gurneyi, Hume, Str. Feath. vol. iii. 1875, p. 296, pl. iii. (South Tenasserim); vol. viii. 1879, p. 94.— 
Hume & Dav. Str. Feath. vol. vi. 1878, p. 244.— Gould, B. Asia, vol. v. p. 73. 
Brachyurus gurneyi, Hume, Str. Feath. vol. iii. 1875, p. 321 (Tenasserim). 
Eucichla gurneyi, Gould, Mon. Pitt. pt. i. pl. 5.—Oates, B. Brit. Burm. 1883, vol. i. p. 418.—Sclat. Cat. B. 
vol. xiv. 1888, p. 448. 
HaAB1TAT.—Tenasserim. 
Male. Forehead, sides of head and паре, breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts jet-black ; some feathers 
among the last-named tipped with blue. Feathers on top of head and occiput lazuline-blue, termi- 
nating in a lengthened crest. Back and wings rufescent brown, the inner secondaries slightly edged 
with grey. Under wing-coverts black, spotted with white; on the inner web of the primaries at the 
base is a small white spot. Upper tail-coverts blue; tail black, broadly margined with blue. Chin 
and upper half of throat white; lower half, sides of neck, and flanks golden yellow, with narrow 
black cross-bars on the flanks. Thighs greyish white, obscurely barred with light brown. Bill black ; 
legs, feet, and claws fleshy white. Iris very dark brown. Total length 8 inches, wing 4, tail 2:1. 
Female. Top of head and nape orange-brown; cheeks and ear-coverts black, the feathers of the latter 
having orange-brown shafts. Back and wings rufescent brown, less bright than in the male. Tail 
blue. Chin and throat brownish white ; underparts brownish white, tinged with yellow and regularly 
crossed with narrow black bars. Under tail-coverts dingy black, some feathers tipped with dull blue. 
Bill black; iris very dark brown ; eyelids black. Legs, feet, and claws dingy fleshy white. 
This very beautiful Pitta was procured by Mr. Davison in Tenasserim, and described 
by Mr. Hume, l. c., who named it after the late Mr. J. Н. Gurney, so well known as 
the greatest authority on Raptorial birds. It is totally different from all the other 
members of this family, although it does possess some of the coloration observed in 
certain species of the same restricted genus in which it is placed. 
Apparently only a migrant in Tenasserim, it probably breeds in Siam, or in the hills 
dividing the latter country from Tenasserim. It was observed by Mr. Davison between 
Laynah, the most northern locality, u Kenong, within the estuary of Pakehan on 
the Siamese side, the most southern. 
About the 10th of February a few individuals appear, according to Davison, round 
Malewoon and Bankasoon, but are scarce until after the first two weeks in April, when 
they become more and more numerous until the monsoon rains set in, when they 
rapidly disappear. The birds remain in the evergreen forests, rarely appearing in open 
ground, are shy, and on the first indication of danger hop rapidly away. 
The species was in no place common, and a series of specimens was only obtained 
by persistent hunting. In its habits, Gurney’s Pitta resembles others of the family, 
keeps to the ground, feeds on snails, worms, slugs, and insects of all kinds, and when 
disturbed, unless closely pressed, hops rapidly away and takes refuge in some tangled 
canebrake. Favourite resorts are narrow valleys between hills where there is little or 
no undergrowth. 
The figures in the illustration are drawn from specimens in the British Museum, 
