208 The American Naturalist. [March, 
tion in the colors of the Pittas and but little difference in size 
or shape. The present bird is about 5 inches in length. 
Pitta nove-guinee, notwithstanding the similarity between 
the Pittas generally is distinguished by somewhat more vivid 
colors than its congeners. Above it is a shining green, below 
a darker bluish-green. The head, entire neck and throat are 
black, the tail a dull green. The abdomen is black, giving 
space for the invariable crimson around the vent and upon the 
under tail-coverts. Much bright blue covers the upper wing- 
coverts, while the primaries have the customary white spot on 
their dark brown surface. Upon the rump this lovely blue is 
narrowed to the merest streak. A line of silvery white divid- 
ing the black throat from the oily-green breast is the specific 
mark. Length 6.5 inches. 
Pitta macklotii is dull green above with blue and black on the 
wings and rump. Below the color is like that of the preced- 
ing species, though perhaps not quite so vivid. The cap 1s 
brown with bluish reflection. The throat below the chin 1s 
almost black. Total length 7 inches. , This is about the aver- 
age size of the Pittas and like his relations the Macklotii has the 
shy timid habits, retiring to the depths of thickets at the slight- 
est alarm his whereabouts only to be suspected by the plaintive 
note uttered now and then. 
Two or three species much resemble Pitta novæguineæ, the 
differences between them being but slight. In P. rosenbergu 
we find the colors somewhat more pronounced. Underneath 
along the sides is a length of purple gloss, while on the throat 
there is a greater extent of black. Length 7 inches. Habitat 
Mysore. a 
A local variety if not a distinct species belongs to Geelvink 
Bay and is dubbed P. mafoorana (Schlegel). Here also the 
colors are deeper, while the white spot does not appear at all. 
In all these instances the size is about the same. : 
The brighter green on the breast of the Mafoor Island Pitta 
fades into a greenish-blue on the sides. The larger upper tail- 
coverts are black, the lesser feathers green, identical with the 
coloration of the breast. Coracopitta lugubris, classed among 
the Pittide, is entirely black and of small size, reaching only 
