Birds of Celebes: Pittidae. 
345 
Distribution. Siao (Hoedt a 1, v. Duivenb. al, Fischer 1, Nat. Coll, in Dre,sden Musj- 
Tagulandang (Nat. Coll.). ’ 
This form of Red Pitta is confined, so far as is known, to Siao and Tagu- 
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.palliceps, 
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. caemleitorques 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 emigTation 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 interpreted. 
As Prof. W. Rlasius remarks P.palliceps is the only known species peculiar 
to Siao, unless indeed Scops siaoensis should prove to be distinct from mana- 
densis, but further research will no doubt bring to light some peculiar forms. 
* 111. PITTA CAERULEITORQUES Salvad. 
Sangi Red Pitta. 
Pitta caemleitorques (1) Salvad., Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. 1876, IX, 53; (TI) Rowley Orn. 
Misc. 1877, n, 324, pi. LXIV; (3) Meyer, t. c. p. 327, 328; (4) Salvad.’ Atti 
Ac. Sc. Tor. 1878, XIII, 1187; (V) Gbi, B. New Guinea, pi. 32 (1878); (6) Meyer, 
Isis, Dresden 1884, 6; f7J W. Bias., Ornis I8S8, 601; (8) Sclat., Oat. B. XIY. 
1888, 433; (9) Whitehead, Bhs 1893, 505; (10) M. & Wg., ,J. f. O. 1894 246- 
(XIJ Elliot, Mon. Pitt., pt. IV, 1895, pi. 
Figures and descriptions. Rowley 71; Gould F; Elliot X7; Salvadori i; 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 sinface 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 comj^arison. 
Measurements (2 ex.). Wing 98, 101 mm; tail 36 c.; tarsus 38; bill from nostril 15.5 16. 
Distribution. Great Sangi (Meyer II, Bruijn 1, 4, Platen 7). ’ 
Meyer & WigleswortR, Birds of Celebes (Nov. 2nd, 1S97). 
44 
