tion by a considerable harvest, both as regards the department of animals as well
as plants, which researches seem to annex themselves by, as it were, connecting
links with our former explorations in other islands.
“ Under obligations of gratitude toward his Excellency for the execution of our
coveted enterprise, we chose to introduce into the realm of science one of the
handsomest birds discovered in the island of Sumatra, under his venerated name.
“ Pitta Boschii, as regards.its size, the shape of its bill, and the length of its
feet and tail, resembles sufficiently the Pitta Cyanura, and even the distribution
of colors, in general, indicates in these two species a close mutual relationship, and
a distinction from the other varieties of this family
“ Not having had an opportunity of examining .tins bird freshly killed, we are
not able here to communicate any thing regarding the color of its feet or eyes.
“ The only specimen seen by us was shot in the southeastern part of Sumatra,
and is at present in the Museum here [Leyden]. Its sex is unknown to us.”
Since then, by the acquisition of other specimens, we have been able to ascertain
that the individual above referred to was a male; the female,- as a glance at the
plate will satisfy, being very differently marked.
Messrs. Muller and Sehlegel, thé discoverers of the present species, introduced it
to Ornithologists as Pitta Boschii; but Bonaparte, in his Conspectus Generum Avium,
called it Pitta Elegans, stating, in a note at the bottom of the page, his reason for
supposing why the name first given could not stand.
It can hardly be considered that Prince Bonaparte was fully justified in reducing
the name of Pitta Boschii to the rank of a synonyme, upon the opinion
expressed in his note; while the reasons given by Muller and Sehlegel, for naming
the species as they did, in their article (from which I have quoted), seem to leave
no ground for objection.
The rules of nomenclature by which Ornithologists profess to be governed, will not
permit a substitution of names in a case like this, and therefore I have not hesitated
to restore the one originally given to Van der Bosch’s Pitta.
The figures are life-size and the specimens from which my drawing was made,
are contained in the Philadelphia Academy.
The plant is the Aïsehynanthus Longiflorus. Large-flowered JEschynanthus.