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 abound 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 south of Kediri. Among more central situations, it frequents 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, wluch 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 Motacilla flava 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 European 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. 
