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Webster 1913 Edition
Pitta
Pit′ta
(pĭt′tȧ)
, Noun.
(Zool.)
Any one of a large group of bright-colored clamatorial birds belonging to
Pitta
, and allied genera of the family Pittidæ
. Most of the species are varied with three or more colors, such as blue, green, crimson, yellow, purple, and black. They are called also ground thrushes
, and Old World ant thrushes
; but they are not related to the true thrushes. ☞ The pittas are most abundant in the East Indies, but some inhabit Southern Asia, Africa, and Australia. They live mostly upon the ground, and feed upon insects of various kinds.