NOISY PITTA. 
it was evidently making an almost complete circle round me, as I sat in a wood- 
carter’s track trying to catch a glimpse of the Pitta under the stems of the * 
bushes and trees, while one could tell fairly well its changing position from its 
answering call, but its eyesight was apparently much sharper than that of the 
writer for not a sight did he get of it. The next day I got my friends 
to imitate a bird that was calling to another in a gully, while I tried to 
stalk it. In this I was successful, but instead of finding it running on the 
ground as I expected, I caught a glimpse of the bright scarlet under tail- 
coverts just as the bird was taking flight from about thirty feet up a tree, 
and secured it.” 
Gould did not meet with this species himself but quotes Strange’s notes : 
“ I never saw any bird whose actions are more graceful, when seen in its native 
brushes where its presence is indicated by its singular call, resembling the words 
‘Want a watch.’ No sooner, however, does it commence breeding, than it 
becomes shy and retiring.” 
Barnard stated : “ Lesser Pitta. These are migratory birds from New 
Guinea and on my arrival at Cape York they had not put in an appearance. 
The first one was noted on 10th October, 1910, and a few days later the species 
was plentiful in the scrubs, and there shortly commenced to build. They were 
still breeding when I left the locality. Nest, a large dome-shaped structure, 
placed on the ground against the root of a tree, etc. Eggs, varies from three 
to four for a sitting. Many of the nests examined contained one or two 
eggs, which always disappeared before the full clutch was laid. Upwards of 
forty nests were found, and none contained young.” 
Macgillivray wrote : “ This smaller northern form is fairly common in the 
Cape York scrubs from July until the end of March. They nest in the wet season 
from December until March, building a domed nest, usually on the ground at the 
base of a tree or by a fallen log. The nest is generally constructed of twigs and 
lined with leaves and fine fibres. Three eggs are the usual clutch. In the 
nesting season their call is frequently heard, it consists of a three-note whistle, 
and another sharp ‘ Keow ’ repeated at intervals. They will always answer 
their call if imitated, and come to one. They may often be seen sitting in trees 
and calling. They spend a good portion of their time on the ground, where 
they find their usual food, which consists of beetles and other insects. When 
building they usually find their material on the ground and have been seen 
hopping along to the nest with leaves. Not noted in vicinity of Batavia 
and Ducie Rivers . . . The call is a three-note whistle and a sharp ‘ Keow ’ 
repeated at intervals.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor has sent me some notes confirming the above, but his 
expression of the note is that it sounds like “ ‘ Whit, whit, Weeeeoo ’ and ‘ Wit, 
13 
