PLATE ZXZXj'XTI. 



PITTA VIGORS] (Gould). 



VIGORS' PITTA. 



THE present species was considered by Vigors to be identical with the Pitta Brachyura, but on 

 further investigation it was found to differ in many respects from that bird, and was therefore 

 named by Gould after its discoverer. 



It is found on the north coast of Australia and in some of the adjacent islands. 



As is the case with very many birds from the same part, nothing important has been 

 discovered about its habits. 



The head and back of the neck are black, ^yith an irregular band of white over the eye ; 

 upper surface and wings, dark green ; shoulders and lesser wing-coverts, light green ; primaries, dark 

 brown, crossed near the base by a band of white ; tail, black at the base, green at the tips ; rump, 

 light green ; throat, white ; breast, light buff ; lower part of abdomen and under tail-coverts, bright 

 scarlet ; irides. dark brown ; bill, brown ; legs and feet, flesh-colour. 



Habitat : North coast and adjacent islands. 



PITTA STEEPITANS (Temm). 



m 



NOISY PITTA. 



THIS is an inhabitant of the east coast of Queensland and part of New South Wales. Specimens, 

 with slight differences, have also been obtained from the north coast. 



It procures its food of insects, berries and fruits principally on the ground, over which it 

 runs with great facility, but on being disturbed flies off to the nearest tree. 



It is generally bold, but during the breeding-season becomes very shy, and resorts to all 

 kinds of expedients to draw attention from its nest. The eggs, four in number, are laid in a nest 

 composed of sticks lined with moss, leaves and bark, and placed in a fork of a tree, generally a fig 

 tree. The eggs are of a creamy-white colour, with spots and blotches of brown and brownish grey. 

 Their length is one inch and a quarter, and their breadth seven-eights of an inch. 



The sexes do not differ in colouring. 



Crown of the head rust-red, with an oval-shaped mark of black in the centre ; chin, throat 

 and sides and back of the neck, black ; back and wings, green ; lesser wing-coverts and rump, light 

 green ; a band of white across two of the primaries ; throat, breast and flanks, buff ; in the centre 

 of the abdomen, an irregular patch of black ; vent and under tail-coverts, bright scarlet ; irides, buffy 

 white ; bill, dark brown ; legs and feet, light olive-brown. 



Habitats : Coast of Queensland, New South Wales, and also the north coast. 



