Sydney Porter — Macklot’s Pitta and Notes on the Hooded Pitta 63


past we have been in possession of a true pair of Green-breasted or

Hooded Pittas; one of the birds, the hen, has been with us for over

five years. The other was picked up in a miserable condition about

twelve months ago, but after a few months and after the moult it became

in as good a condition as the other one. Up to the spring of last year

both birds had been remarkably silent, the older bird only at rare

intervals giving out its strange barking call. Knowing how very

pugnacious Pittas are towards one another, we did not keep them

together, but placed them in small aviaries adjoining one another.


Several months ago the birds became very interested in one another,

conversing in a low, wheezing undertone with each other the whole day,

and every now and then giving vent to their loud, barking-like call.

It was very amusing to watch the birds trying to feed each other at

the same time, each with a beak full of mealworms.


Most of the display consisted of bobbing up and down, each bird

drawing itself up to its full height and then quickly bowing down

until the breast was resting on the floor. One morning we let both

birds out on to the bird-room floor, as they were remarkably tame,

just to see what they would do, and a most amusing display was

witnessed.


The birds greeted each other with a very loud, sharp call that we

had never heard before, and immediately waltzed round in a circle,

bowing and bobbing up and down. Then one of the birds would in

turn retire to the end of the room and, with its beautifully marked

wings stretched out and the brilliant blue wing coverts standing out

at right angles to the wings, the blue feathers of the lower back raised

and the scarlet under parts puffed out, the bird would rush at the other

one, nearly knocking it over. This was done repeatedly by each bird

in turn. Now we let the birds out every morning and the display is

begun immediately and is continued for several minutes. Frequently

the birds pair and then return to the respective aviaries. The birds

now know, and are ready waiting by the door as soon as we enter

the bird-room. On rare occasions they caress one another.


Each day the male bird makes a nest in its food pot. This consists

of leaves and fibre from the trays of leaf-mould in the birds’ cages.

Dry pieces of grass are also used, which are pulled from pieces of turf ;



