P I T IA S IG E R E I.
PITTA STEERI I .
Steere’s Pitta .
Brachyurus steerii, Sharpe, Nature, August 3, 1876.
O f all the fine birds brought to light by Dr. Steere’s Expedition to the Philippine Islands, this, is decidedly
one o f the most striking (his grandest novelty being, of course, the Sarcophanops steerii). Not
only is this new Pitta one o f the largest o f the family, falling not far short of the well-known Pitta
maorima 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 is easily distinguished by its unique coloration.
Dr. Steere discovered this Pitta in the Province o f Zamboanga in the large island of Mindanao. He
stayed for some time hunting in the neighbourhood of Zamboanga and Dumalon; and he procured
several new species o f birds during his residence in that island. It was in the forests adjoining the
above-mentioned places that he met with this beautiful Pitta.
The following is a description of 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
at the ends, the innermost more or less green on the inner webs ; primaries black, greenish towards the
ends of the outer webs of 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; upper tail-coverts silvery cobalt, forming a band across the lower
rump, some of the upper tail-coverts b lack ; tail black ; crown of head, nape, and sides of face black;
cheeks and throat white, rest of under surface of body light blue, the centre o f 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 of his rare birds.
The figures in the Plate represent the only two specimens o f this Pitta procured by him, and are of the size
o f life.