

58 Sydney Porter—Further Notes on Rare Pittas


A few of these wonderful creatures were brought back by Mr. Good-

fellow from Sarawak in November, 1930. One was in full colour, but

the others were in the sombre plumage of the females or young males,

for in this species, contrary to the usual rule, the female is dull coloured.

I did not purchase any at the time, as I was moving house, and did

not want too many birds. This I much regretted, for a little later on,

when I wanted one, they were all sold. All the birds seemed to be very

tame. I think the Zoo has one of them, but this is a female, a rather

inconspicuous bird of a dull chestnut and fawn with a bright blue tail.


Since the following notes were written, two very fine Pittas have

been imported for the first time by Mr. Frost, namely, the Giant

Pitta ( Pitta mixima) from Halmaheira, a wonderful creature, of which

the dried skins in museums give no idea of the real beauty of the

live bird. The white feathers of the breast resemble the whitest

porcelain, and the under parts are the most wonderful “ living ”

wine-red.


It is thought that the white breast of this bird has been evolved

as a protective measure, as there is an immense outcrop of white

limestone in the forests which it inhabits, and as the great naturalist,

Wallace, says, “ it is everywhere projecting and often almost blocking

up the pathways.”


Macklot’s Pitta (Pitta mackloti) is a much smaller bird than the

foregoing, and is characterized by having the breast with bands of

black, blue, and vivid scarlet, and belongs to the group known as the

Red-breasted Pittas, of which most examples are found in the islands

adjacent to New Guinea.


This bird has a wide distribution being found on the mainland of

New Guinea, also on many of the neighbouring islands, and in the Cape

York district of Northern Australia.


Both the Noisy Pitta ( Pitta strepitans), a bird which bears

a resemblance to the Green-breasted Pitta but lacks the green breast,

and the Rainbow Pitta ( Pitta iris), a most lovely bird, which is-

characterized by having the head and breast jet black, have both been

imported, the two species being found in Northern Australia.


Swinhoe’s Pitta ( Pitta oreas), a beautiful bird allied to the well-

known Bengal Pitta which is found in a certain part of eastern China,.



