MELAMPITTA LUGUBRIS, Schiegei. 
Black Ground-Thrush. 
Melampitta lugubris, Schl. N. T. D. iv. p. 47. — Sclater, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 696. 
What are the natural affinities of this most curious bird ? is a question which will exercise the ingenuity of 
ornithologists for some time to come. The generic appellation Melampitta, or “Black Ground-Thrush,” 
bestowed upon it by Professor Schiegei, shows that by that eminent ornithologist the bird was evidently 
considered a near ally of the genus Pitta ; and this is the position which I myself would assign to it. But 
the interesting aspect of the question still remains with regard to the affinities of the Mascarene genus 
Philepitta , another systematic puzzle to ornithologists. As the name of the latter genus implies, it was 
considered to he a relation of the Pittidse, in which family it lias generally been included ; but Mr. Sharpe 
has referred it to the Paradiseidae — an indication of the difficulty presented by the structural peculiarities 
of the bird. 
An important link between Pitta and Philepitta seems to be offered in the present species, which unites 
the general appearance of a true Ground-Thrush with something of that velvety plumage for which Philepitta 
is famous ; and therefore I cannot but regard this discovery of Baron von Rosenberg’s as of the highest 
interest to the ornithologist, not only as uniting genera whose affinities were doubtful, but also as exhibiting 
another of the mysterious links which unite the fauna of Madagascar and certain portions of the Malayan 
archipelago. 
Nothing is known of the present species beyond the fact that it was discovered in the northern peninsula 
of New Guinea, and was afterwards met with by d’Albertis in the Atam district. 
The entire bird is black with a slight bluish tinge, the feathers of the forehead, region of the eye, lores, 
base of mandible, and chin having a velvety appearance. The length is about six inches. 
My Plate is taken from Signor d’Albertis’s Atam specimen, and represents the species of the size of life. 
