CYAN0PITTA STEEMBI.
CYANOPITTA STEERII.
Steere’s Pitta.
Braclyitms steerii, Sharpe, Nature, August 3, 1876.—Id. Trans. Linn. Soc., 2nd ser. Zool. i. p. 320, pi. xliz.
Pitla steerii, Gould, Birds of Asia, part 29.
Melanopitta steerii, Tweed. Proc. Zool. Soc., 1878, p. 949.
Of all the fine birds brought to light by Dr. Steere’s expedition to the Philippine Islands this is
decidedly one of the most striking (his grandest novelty being, of course, the Sarcophamps steerii). Not
only is this new Pitta one of the largest of the family, falling not far short of the well-known Pitta
maxima in size, but it is also perfectly distinct as regards its coloration; for there is no species which
is blue underneath as the present bird is. From its black head, it ought to be associated with the group
called by Bonaparte Melanopitta; but from all these it it easily distinguished by its unique coloration, which
reminds one most o f Pitta maxima, though there are differences almost sufficient to warrant its being placed
in a different section from that b ird ; and I therefore propose the name o f Cyarapitta for it.
Dr. Steere discovered this Pitta in the Province of Zamboanga, in the large island o f Mindanao. He
stayed for some time hunting in the neighbourhood of Zamboanga and Dumalon ; and he procured several
new species of birds during his residence in that islaud. It was in the forests adjoining the above-
mentioned places that he met with this beautiful Pitta, which was also found by Mr. Allred Everett near
Zamboanga.
The following is a description o f the typical specimens
Above dull green, with a shade of brighter grass-green under certain lights; wing-coverts silvery cobalt,
forming a large shoulder-patch; bastard wing, primary-coverts, and greater coverts black, the latter blue
a t the ends, the innermost more o r less green on the inner webs; primaries black, greenish towards the
ends of the outer webs o f the shorter ones; the secondaries more and more green on the outer webs as
they approach the innermost, which are entirely green, the third to the seventh primaries having a large
white spot forming an alar speculum; u p p e r tail-coverts silvery cobalt, forming a band across the lower
rump some of the upper tail-coverts black; tail black; crown o f head, nape, and sides o f face black;
cheeks and throat white ; rest of nnder surface of body light blue, the centre of the abdomen black; under
wing-coverts black.
Another specimen, apparently a somewhat younger bird, was also procured by Dr. Steere, and had the
lower part of the belly pale vermilion.
I am under the greatest obligation to Dr. Steere for his kindness in lending me so many o f his rare
birds. The figures in the Plate represent the only two specimens of this Pitta procured by him, and are of
the size of life.