BRACHYURUS (MELA NOPITTA, BON.) OUCDLLATUS.
name of Malaccensis ought not to stand; but unfortunately, the work in which they described
this bird, bears date on its title page from 1839 to 1844, and although the
aiticle which it contains on the Pittae is in the earlier portion of a kind of first part,
yet it bears no date, consequently it is impossible to say whether the name given to this
species by those authors should take precedence over that of Pitta Cueullata, which was
given to it by Dr. Hartlaub in the Revue of 1843.
This,-so fin- as I am able to ascertain, settles the doubt as to whether there is such
a species as Pitta Malaceensis or not. I have not been able to discover such a bird, and
believe that the name wherever it may be found is but a synonyme of some variety
previously described.
The Braehyurus Cucullatus bears some resemblance to the Pitta Atricapilla of
Cuvier, but is easily distinguished from that species by the Chestnut color on the top of
the head, and on the occiput, while the head and neck of Cuvier’s bird are entirely black
by having the primaries black, relieved only by a white spot, while those of P. Atricapilla
are nearly all white, and by some other equally strong characteristics.
Regarding the habits and economy of the Hooded Pitta, I have not been able to
learn any thing. Messrs. Muller and Schlegel do not give any facts concerning it in
the Verhandlungen beyond simply remarking that it is a new species, and draw a comparison
between it and P. Atricapilla, Cuv., which I have already given in the article
on B. Cyanopterus.
The B. Cucullatus is found in Malacca; and Blyth states, in the Journal of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal, that it is also found in Nepal and Assam, as well as in the
vicinity of the straits.
The plate represents two adult birds on a branch of the Penstemen Gentianoides,
var. Splendens. I am not able to discover any difference in the plumage of the_sexes.
The figures are life size.