MOTACILLA SPECIOSA. 



Ord. II'?'' Les Passereaux, Cuvier. 1""' Famille, Les Dentirostres. 

 OuD. III"?" Insectivoe.es, Temminck. 

 Ord. VI. Passeres, Linn. Syst. 

 Ord. II. Ambulatores, Illiger. 



MOTACILLA, Latham, Temminck. 



Char. Gen. Rostrum mediocre, rectum, cylindricum, gracUe, subulatum, emargi- 

 natum. Maxilla basi subtrigona, culmine inter nares carinato ; mandibula sub- 

 compressa. Nares basales, laterales, ovales, membrana nuda semiclausse. 

 Cauda elongata sequalis seu forficata. Pedes ambulatorii : tarsi elongati, digito 

 medio duplo fere longiores. Ungues parvi, haUucis medio antice majore. 



Motacilla atra, pileo cristato ventre uropygio fascia alarum rectricibus extimis totis, 



ceteris apicibus niveis, cauda longissima forficata. 

 Chenginging or KingJeiyig of the Javanese. 

 Motacilla speciosa, Horsf. Syst. Arrangement of Birds from Java, Linn. Trans. 



Vol. XIII. p. 155. 



jL he plumes of black and white which ornament this bird, are so disposed as 

 to form a strong and beautiful contrast. The crest, lower part of the back, the 

 rump, beUy, vent, the two exterior tail feathers* entirely, and the other tail feathers 

 at their extremity, a broad band extending obliquely across the wings and the axillae 

 are white ; the head (excepting the crest), the breast, back, and greatest part of the 

 wings and tail are black. The white resembles the purest snow white, but the black 

 has different shades : it is more intense on the head and breast, having a slight 

 reflection of dark blue inclining to purple ; on the extremity of the wings it has a 

 tint of brown. A few minute black plumes bound the crest behind and at the sides, 

 extending to the base of the bill. Three or four of the last secondary feathers have 

 a narrow band of white ; but the succession is not regular : it sometimes appears on 

 the alternate feathers, or on the fourth after two intermediate feathers of the usual 

 blackish-brown colour. The plumes of the Hypochondrias are elongated, and deli- 

 cately villous. The length of the body and head is 4J, and of the tail 6 inches : the 

 bill is black, and measures 10 lines in length ; the tarsi have nearly double the length 

 of the middle toe, and are pale flesh-coloured, with a tint of yeUow. 



