224 a hand-book of the management of animals 



Treatment in health. 



With respect to housing and feeding it may be treated like a 

 geocichla (No. 62). 



Observations on the habits of the Indian Pitta. 



Like the geocichla, a pitta is a shy and solitary bird, scarcely 

 associating with others, and seldom amusing itself in any way. In this 

 respect it is perhaps less interesting than a geocichla; it is generally 

 very silent. 



(92) THE G-EEEN-BEEASTED PITTA. 



(PITTA CUCULLATA— Hartlaub.) 



Description, — A green bird, with the chin, throat, sides of the head 

 and the neck all round black; the crown of the head dark rufous-brown ; 

 the upper tail-coverts and part of the wings verdigris-blue; primaries 

 black, with a conspicuous white patch ; the vent and under tail-coverts 

 scarlet ; length about 7 inches. 



flab, — Found in Nepal, Sikhim, Assam, Burmah and the Malayan 

 peninsula. 



A specimen lived for about two months only. 



(93) THE GOLD-BACKED WOODPEOKEE. 

 (BRACHYPTERNUS AURANTIUS-(Z™rc.) ) 



In Lower Bengal all the birds of this group are known as kdt-tokrd, 

 woodpeckers. The gold-backed woodpecker is so well-known in Bengal 

 that no description is needed. 



Hab.— Found almost throughout the whole of India, including the 

 lower ranges of the Himalayas ; the northern parts of Ceylon, British 

 Burmah, the Indo-Burmese countries and the Malayan peninsula. 



Length of life in captivity. 



About six to seven months. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — A large aviary is by far the best accommodation for a 

 woodpecker ; here it may have some chance of indulging in its favourite 

 habit of tapping, if not a living tree, at least a dead one, to procure its 

 food ; but, howsoever suitable the accommodation may be, a woodpecker 

 is always an intractable bird in captivity. In selecting stock, younger 

 birds should be perf erred, as they can be taught to feed on prepared food 

 with comparative ease ; as long as they are not so trained, they should, 

 of course, be kept separately. 



Food. — In captivity young birds may be trained to feed on satoo, 

 minced meat and soft fruits, but insects and maggots are indispensable ; 

 satoo should be soft and semi-liquid, and may be prepared with eggs, 

 raw or half-boiled, and finely minced meat. 



