AVES. 
2 % 
brown with the shafts of yellowish white, which gives them a bristly 
appearance. 
Wings; light brown, the inner part of the quills being" darker than 
the exposed edges and the rest of the wing. 
Tail ; chesnut, the feathers of the upper tail-covers are thick and 
soft. 
Length, about 6^ inches. 
„ of bill from gape, 8-| lines. 
„ of bill from front, 7 ^ lines. 
„ of wings, 3 inches. 
„ of tail, 2 1 inches. 
,, of tarsus, 9 lines. 
„ of middle toe, 7-| lines., 
„ of hallux, 6 lines. 
We have two specimens of this species, one of which is rather 
smaller than the other. This difference is probably due to sex. 
In their habits these birds somewhat resemble our European 
Creepers, excepting that they feed together in small flocks ; 
their food appears to consist entirely of insects, and wlien feed- 
ing they are so intent upon their work as to allow of a very 
near approach ; they haunt low jungle, and are easily recognised 
by their peculiar flight in lowering themselves, which they effect 
by fljdng perpendicularly down. They occasionally utter a 
low Inward song something like that of a Wood»lark before he 
begins to sing. 
Gen. Pitta. 
Pitta cyanoptera (Temm.). 
Above ; back green, tail-covers vivid blue, head black, forehead 
brown, whence a stripe of light brown extends over each eye to the 
hind head. 
Below ; raw sienna colour, with the tail-covers and the centre of 
the belly vermilion-red, upper throat yellowish white. 
Wings ; above, scapularies green, covers vivid blue, the base of the 
feathers being blue-green ; the base and tips of the primaries black, the 
centre pure white ; the secondaries are black, externally edged with 
dusky blue at the upper part— the wings below are black with a 
broad band of pure white. 
Tail ; black, tipped with dull blue. 
Length, 8^ inches. 
„ of bill froni gape, 1 inch 3 lines. 
„ of bill from front, 1 inch, 
„ of wings, 4f inches. 
„ of tail, 1| inch. 
