346. Pitta cucullata, Hartlaub.

P. rhodogastra, Hodgs., j. A. S., XII., 961 (the young bird) -  P. nigricollis, Blyth, j. A. S., XII., 960 - Ann. Nat. Hist., 1844, pl. 20 - Blyth, Cat. 960 - Horsf., Cat. App., 652 - Phattim pho, Lepch.

The Green-breasted Ground-thrush.

Descr. - Crown dark rufous-brown; chin, throat, sides of head, and neck all round, black; back fine glossy dark green; bend of wing, and upper tail-coverts, bright verdigris-blue ; a large white patch on the primaries, which are black; lower parts bluish-green or sea-green ; vent, and under tail-coverts, vermillion.

Bill black ; legs pale reddish ; irides brown. Length 7 inches ; wing 4 1/4 or 1/2; tail 1 5/8 ; tarsus 1 1/2 ; bill at front 13/16.

The young bird has some white on the wing-coverts, a white band on the throat, and is dull brown beneath, mixed with green.

This very handsome Ground-thrush is found in Nepal and Sikhim, extending into Assam, Burmah, and the Malayan peninsula. It is rare in the S. E. Himalayas. I only procured one specimen, which was killed by a Lepcha, when seated on her nest, on the banks of the great Rungeet river, about 1,200 feet above the sea. The nest was composed chiefly of roots and other fibrous matter, with a few hairs, and contained three eggs of a faint greenish-white, with a few reddish and some fawn-colored spots. To this group belong several species from Celebes, New Guinea, and the Philippines.

Another group, Erythrogastri of Bonaparte, contains some of the most richly coloured of the series ; among them P. granatina, from Malacca.

The Pitta of Bonaparte has the tail somewhat longer than in the last, and slightly wedge-shaped, and the body is banded beneath. To this belong, P. cyanura from Malacca, and P. hyans. T. (Boschi, Miill.), from Sumatra.

The next group is that of the Dippers or Water-ouzels, so well known from their habit of diving to the bottom of streams, and running along to pick up their food.