MOTACILLA SPECIOSA. 



The Motacilla speciosa resembles in its habits and manners several European 

 species of this genus. It is exclusively found near small rivulets : in the beds of 

 these, particularly where they abovmd with rocks and gravel, it is seen running along 

 with alacrity, moving its tail incessantly, and picking up worms and insects. It is 

 very locally distributed, and uniformly deserts the neighbourhood of populous vil- 

 lages. It is almost entirely confined to the southern coast of Java, which abounds 

 in small streams, descending rapidly from the southern hills, and shaded by luxuriant 

 shrubs. Here I first discovered this bird, in the district of Pajittan, in the year 1809. 

 I afterwards met with it again, along this coast, in the district of Karang-bollong, 

 and in the provinces sovith of Kediri. Among more central situations, it fi-equents the 

 banks of an elevated lake near the declivities of the Mountain Prahu, where I found 

 it more numerous than in any other part of Java. In the extensive forests of Pugar 

 and Blambangan I never noticed it, although I devoted a considerable time to their 

 examination. 



In comparing Motacilla speciosa with Motacilla flava, which is also found in 

 Java, it may be remarked that its bill is proportionally long, broad at the base, then 

 suddenly compressed, or tapering almost equally to a point, which is abruptly curved. 

 It has also a more rounded back, the terminal notch is more obvious, and the point 

 proportionally obtuse. The groove containing the nares is depressed, and the mem- 

 brane covering the superior portion, large and prominent. The claw of the posterior 

 toe of MotaciUa fliava is slender and elongated : in Motacilla speciosa it agrees with the 

 character given of it in the generic description. But the remiges of our species have an 

 arrangement different from those of the Eviropean Motacilla : in these the second is 

 longest, and the first scarcely perceptible. In the Motacilla speciosa the first is 

 short ; from the second, which is of moderate length, they increase gradually to the 

 fifth, which is longest: the sixth and seventh are gradually, and the remaining 

 abruptly abbreviated. 



