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Tab X X I I l .
P IT T A BR A CHY U R A .
I t nmy be obsen-cd, that in figuring this beautiful bird in the " Century,” no novelty will be added to
science, since the species lias been already both described and figured by more than one a n th o r; but it lias
been thought proper to give a Plate of P i t t a h a c k ja r a for the purpose of showing that the habitat o f the
genus is not restricted, as is generally stated to be the case, to the warmer portions of India, lint extends to the
colder regions of the Himalayan momitaliis, where the species before iis has been foiiiul, as well as to New
Holland, from which various siiecies have been received.
Tbe habits o f this bird, like those o f its congeners, are strictly terrestrial: it gains its food wlioliy from
the surface o f the ea rth, to which station its length o f limb points it out as peculiarly adapted, insects, worms,
snails, &c., forming its principal means of subsistence. In its general manners as well as hi its food it
greatly resembles its allies the true Thrushes. On comparing these two nearly connected groups together,
we may observe that although tlie vivid colouring of the plumage of the present genus confers upon it a
gre a t superiority over th a t of the Thrushes, yet tlie disproportionate and almost grotesque form of the tail
gives it a proportional inferiority in point of elegance of form.
Tlie plumage of tlie back is metallic green ; the shoulders and quills are black with a bar of white, each
feather being tipped with g re y ; the scapulars and rump are bright lazuline b lue ; a black line extends from
the beak to the occiput and down the neck, bordered on each side by olive brown ; the ear-coverts and sides
of the neck are je t bla ck; the throat w h ite ; the breast and under surface tawny ; the under tail-coverts arc
sc a r le t; the bill bla ck ; the tarsi horn colour.
The figure is of the natural size.
P I T 'if A ?. Fv A C H Y V. R A ,