ELLIOT'S ILLUSTRATIONS.
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BEACHYURUS (Meukopitta, Bow.) ATRICAPILLUS.
BLACK-HEADED PIU'A.
Merula Viridis Atrieapilla Moluccensis. Briss. Ornith., vol. ii., p. 319, £ 2.
L a Brève des Philippines. Guv. Règn. Animal, (1829,) p. 373, (note.)
P itta Atrieapilla. Less. Trait. Ornith., (1831,) p. 394, sp. 7.
P itta Philippensis. Schleg. Verhand. Natuur. Geschied. Ned. Ind., No. 22.
P itta Philippensis. VieflT. -\
P itta Macrorhyneha. Jno. Gray, Zool. Miscell., (1831,) p. 3.
Turdus Brevieauda. Bodd. Tabl. Plan. Enl. des Buff., 89.
P itta Melanocephala. Wagl.
P itta Brevieauda. Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. i.
Corvus Brachyurus Philippensis. Gmel. SySt. Nat., p. 375, var. B.
Merle des Philippines. Buff Plan. Enl., 89.
P itta Atrieapilla. G. R. Gray, Gen. o f Birds, vol. i.
Brachyurus Atricapillus. Bon. Consp. Av., (1850,) p. 256, sp. 25.
Melanopitta Atrieapilla. Bon. Consp. Voluc. Anisod., (1854,) p. 7, No. L98.
P itta Atrieapilla. Gould, Birds o f Asia, pi.
P itta (Brachyura) Leucoptera? Elliot, Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien., (1861,) p. 153.
Viridis : capite, colloque nigris ; tectricibus alarum, uropygioque viridi-cyaneis ; remigibus nigris
ex parte albis ; cauda nigra, apice caerulante ; abdomine nigro ; crisso rubro ; rostro nigro ; pedibus
brunneis.
Adult.—Head and neck, b la ck ; back and wings, dark green: shoulders and lesser wing coverts, and
rump, light greenish blue; primaries, black, broadly marked with white; tail, black, edged with
blue; under parts, light green; black spot on the abdomen; crissum, red; bill, black; feet and
tarsi, brown.
This beautiful species, first described by Cuvier in 1829, is among the best
known of the family. It is very closely allied to three other species, and at first
sight might easily be confounded with either of them. It is fond of dwelling in