CYANOPITTA STEERII. 
Steere’s Pitta. 
Brachyunis steerii, Sharpe, Nature, August 3, 1876.— Id. Trans. Linn. Soc., 2nd ser. Zool. i. p. 329, pi. xlix. 
Pitla steerii, Gould, Birds of Asia, part 29. 
Melanopitta steerii, Tweed. Proc. Zool. Soc., 1878, p. 949. 
Of all the fine birds brought to light by Dr. Steere’s expedition to the Philippine Islands this is 
decidedly one of the most striking (his grandest novelty being, of course, the Sarcophamps steerii). Not 
oidy is this new Pitta one of the largest of the family, falling not far short of the well-known Pitta 
maxima in size, but it is also perfectly distinct as regards its coloration ; for there is no species wdiich 
is blue underneath as the present bird is. From its black head, it ought to he associated with the group 
called by Bonaparte Melanopitta ; hut from all these it it easily distinguished by its unique coloration, which 
reminds one most of Pitta maxima, though there are differences almost sufficient to warrant its being placed 
in a different section from that bird; and I therefore propose the name of Cyanopitta for it. 
Dr. Steere discovered this Pitta in the Province of Zamboanga, in the large island of Mindanao. He 
stayed for some time hunting in the neighbourhood of Zamboanga and Dumalon ; and he procured several 
new species of birds during his residence in that island. It was in tlie forests adjoining the above- 
mentioned places that he met with this beautiful Pitta, which was also found by Mr. Alfred Everett near 
Zamboanga. 
The following is a description of the typical specimens ; — 
Above dull green, with a shade of brighter grass-green under certain lights ; wing-coverts silvery cobalt, 
forming a large shoulder-patch ; bastard wing, primary-coverts, and greater coverts black, the latter blue 
at the ends, the innermost more or less green on the inner webs ; j)rimaries black, greenish tow'ards the 
ends of the outer webs of the shorter ones; the secondaries more and more green on the outer webs as 
they aj)proach the innermost, which are entirely green, the third to the seventh primaries having a large 
white spot forming an alar speculum ; upper tail-coverts silvery cobalt, forming a band across the lower 
rump, some of the upper tail-coverts black ; tail black ; crown of head, nape, and sides of face black ; 
cheeks and throat white ; rest of under surface of body light blue, the centre of the abdomen black ; under 
wing-coverts black. 
Another specimen, apparently a somewhat yout)ger bird, was also procured by Dr. Steere, and had the 
lower part of the belly pale vermilion. 
I am under the greatest obligation to Dr. Steere for his kindness in lending me so many of his rare 
birds. The figures in the Plate represent the only two specimens of this Pitta procured by him, and are of 
the size of life. 
