56



Sydney Porter—Further Notes on Rare Pittas



with, the Pittas, vieing one with another. This bird is very rotund

in shape, looking almost like a brilliantly coloured ball on long legs.

Nothing is known of the wild life of this bird except that it is found in

swampy old jungles close to the sea in the great island of Borneo,

where so many other extraordinary feathered forms are found. My

bird was brought over by Mr. Goodfellow with four or five others in

November of 1930. This is the second time that this bird has been

imported, one other coming over in 1928, and was in Mr. Spedan Lewis’

collection. My bird, a female, reared two young ones which were put

in the same cage with it but as soon as they were able to fend for

themselves she killed them by “ braining ” them. This, no doubt,

shows that Pittas drive away their young as soon as they can fend for

themselves.


Mr. Goodfellow tells me that the way the natives catch the birds

is to find out the nest of the species, which is similar to that of a Wren’s,

made of moss with the hole at the side, and placed on the ground at the

foot of a tree. The natives watch from a distance for the birds to

enter the nest. They then creep up from behind the tree, and at an

opportune moment clap their hands over the hole of the nest. After

having caught one bird, they wait for the other, thus capturing both

male and female. This shows, no doubt, that both male and female

incubate.


The bird may be described as follows : The front of the head and

crown to a line behind the eye, deep crimson, almost black ; a large

circular patch on the back of the crown, nape, and neck, a brilliant

crimson ; on each side of the head above the eyes is a long fine line of

silvery lilac-blue feathers which stand out in the form of two horns.

The whole back and wings are a glossy reddish purple, each feather

having a lighter centre. The whole of the wing-coverts is a bright

silvery lilac blue. The throat and upper breast are a rich deep purplish

crimson, the whole of the underparts being the most brilliant scarlet.

The tiny tail is bright purplish blue. The legs and beak are black.

The horns with which this bird is adorned are quite unique, and are

possessed by no other bird.


I found this Pitta different in its general demeanour from any other

Pitta. Though tame, it was not very intelligent. It had a very peculiar



