All Ri^i^hts Reserved. January, 1921. 
BIRD NOTES: 
THE 
JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 
Pittas. 
Bv Wkslf.v T. Pack. F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 
I have not liad a lenj^thy experience of this quaint family 
of birds, in fact I liave only kept the Indian Pitta (Pitta brachy- 
nra). and that only for a few months in a roomy caye. 
These birds came to me (1916, I think) as part of a varied 
consii^nment from Mr. E. W. Harper; the bulk of them soon 
passed into other hands, but three, the leavings of the lot, I 
intended to retain ; unfortunately then my present aviaries were 
not complete, and thus I had to keep them in a roomy cage; 
after a few months, on the advent of cold weather, they became 
drowsy and refused to take much exercise. I removed them 
to warmer quarters, but they remained lethargic, and in about 
six weeks all had " gone west." Their bodies were plump and 
their plumage in fine condition. I examined them and found 
all their organs in good order, but in each case there was slight 
cerebral hemorrhage. They were fed on insectile mixture, 
milk-sop, and live insects. During importation they had been 
fed on hard-boiled egg, grain, etc., and I continued this for a 
few weeks, but as I found them becoming overfat and sluggish 
I gradually weaned them on to the former dietary, and they 
improved for a time. Personally I attribute their loss to 
somewhat confined quarters — a cage 3ft. x 2ft. x ift. high — had 
they had space for moderate flight I am of the opinion they 
would have done well. I also formed the opinion that they 
need a minimum temperature of 50-60 degrees during the cold 
period of the EngHsh year. I also formed the opinion that 
they would not be safe companv for birds smaller than, say, a 
bulbul. 
With this preface, I think I cannot do better than quote 
v 
