Birds of Celebes; Pittidae. 
345 
Distribution. Siao (Hoedt a 1, v. Duivenb. a 1, Fischer 1, ISTat. Coll, in Dresden Mus.); 
Tagulandang (Nat. Coll.). 
This form of Red Pitta is confined, so far as is known, to Siao and Tagn- 
landang, two of the southern islands of the Sangi Group. The habitat of the 
type, originally indicated as “Sangir”, has now been fairly satisfactorily settled 
as being Siao. Only 12 specimens in the Leyden, Darmstadt and Dresden 
Museums are on record, the majority being in immature plumage. P. paUiceps, 
as Meyer has elsewhere (3) remarked, is undoubtedly only an insular variation 
of P. celebensis] the Great Sangi bird is somewhat further removed and resembles 
rather more closely P. erythrogaster of the Philippines ; nevertheless P. palliceps, 
in virtue of its pale head, absence of all signs of a black ring round the hind 
neck, and of its similar blue pectoral collar and throat, is undoubtedly an 
approach towards P. caeruleitorques of Great Sangi. In fact the four forms afford 
regular transitions, just as do their respective habitats, and it is highly probable 
that Siao and Sangi served as stepping-stones and halting-places and became 
colonised by Red Pittas from Celebes or from Mindanao. In which direction 
this emigration took place may possibly be understood when the meaning of 
the disappearing (or growing) white speculum and vertical stripe of blue among 
other characters has been correctly interj)reted. 
As Prof. W. Blasius remarks P.palliceps is the only known species peculiar 
to Siao, unless indeed Scops siaoensis should prove to be distinct from S. mana- 
densis^ but further research will no doubt bring to light some peculiar forms. 
f * 111. PITTA CAERULEITOKQUES Salvad. 
Sangi Red Pitta. 
Pitta caeruleitorques (1) Salvad., Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. 1876, IX, 53; (II) Rowley, Orn. 
Misc. 1877, n, 324, pi. LXIY; (3) Meyer, t. c. p. 327, 328; (4) Salvad., Atti 
Ac. Sc. Tor. 1878, XIII, 1187; (V) Gld., B. New Guinea, pi. 32 (1878); (6) Meyer, 
Isis, Dresden 1884, 6; (7) W. Bias., Ornis 1888, 601; (8) Sclat., Cat. B. XIV, 
1888, 433; (9) Whitehead, Ibis 1893, 505; (10) M. & Wg., J. f. 0. 1894, 246; 
(XI) Elliot, Mon. Pitt., pt. lY, 1895, pi. 
Figures and descriptions. Rowley II; Gould F; Elliot XI; Salvador! 7; W. Blasius 7; 
Sclater 8. 
Adult. Like P. celebensis ad., but the head above and neck much paler yellowish chestnut 
— almost ferruginous, and without any blue vertical streak, the lower neck bordered 
against the mantle with a fringe of China-blue, like that of the pectoral band, with- 
out any intermediate black wing; the green parts of the upper surface somewhat 
greyer; throat and face, darker and more russet; under parts similar, but the black 
band below the pectoral collar narrower (adult. Great Sangi: Meyer — Nr. 1910). 
“Iris brown; bill black; feet blue-grey” (Platen 7). 
Another specimen (1909) has the upper surface shghtly bluer than in that taken 
for comparison. 
Measurements (2 ex.). Wing 98, 101 mm; tail 36 c.; tarsus 38; bill from nostril 15.5, 16. 
Distribution. Great Sangi (Meyer 71, Bruijn 7, 4, Platen 7). 
Meyer & Wiglesworth, Birds of Celebes (Xov. 2nd, 1897). 
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