Sydney Porter—Further Notes on Bare Pittas



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FURTHER NOTES ON RARE PITTAS


By Sydney Porter


Continuing the notes on the various rare Pittas which appeared in

the last August issue of the Magazine, I might mention that quite a

few of the beautiful Blue-tailed Pittas ( Eucichla cyanura) were imported

last autumn by Mr. Frost, and I hope by now that these birds have

found a home where they will receive the attention that they deserve.


Most of the birds were males, which rather bears out the statement

by Whitehead that the males and females separate at certain seasons

of the year.


In colour this bird has the top of the head black, the feathers forming

a pointed crest falling over the nape. Below this is a broad band of

brilliant golden yellow, while below this from the beak to the back

of the neck is another band of black feathers. The chin and throat

are white, passing into another band of golden yellow, which meets at

the back of the neck. On the upper breast is a band of brilliant shining

blue, below which the whole breast is golden yellow finely barred

with shining blue. Seen in the sunlight, the whole breast has a wonderful

blue lustre. The upper parts are a rich reddish brown, the wings black,

the wing-coverts and secondaries tipped with white, the narrow pointed

tail bright shining blue. The beak is black and the legs leaden colour.


In the nesting habits this bird differs from the rest in so much that

it does not nest upon the ground as the others do, and we read in the

“ Pittidea” that “the nest is built six or eight feet above the ground, and

is usually placed amid the branches of an orchideous bush growing as

a parasite upon some old trunk. These plants are frequently damp

and mouldy, and occasionally the nest becomes soaked through from

beneath.” We are also told that “ when seeking food, this bird will

sometimes scratch with its feet in the manner of a chicken, and examine

the scattered leaves and exposed ground with the bill. Its foods consists

of earthworms, beetles, and various insects and their larvae.”


The Borean Granatine Pitta ( Pitta granatina borneensis). This

amazingly coloured bird is perhaps the loveliest of the whole family,

and perhaps one of the most extraordinary birds in the world. It

seems as though Nature had done her utmost in brilliant decoration



