INTRODUCTION. xlv 



Genus Eupetomena, Gould. 



(Eu, benfe, et Trerofxepr], volans.) 

 Generic characters. 



Male. — Bill longer than the head, and shghtly arched ; wings moderate ; shafts of the first two or three pri- 

 maries bowed, dilated and flattened ; tail long and deeply forked ; tarsi partially clothed ; feet rather small ; hind 

 toe shorter than the middle toe. 



Female. — Similar to the male in plumage. 



47. Eupetomena macroura. 



Eupetomena hirundinacea . ............ VolII. PI. 42. 



Prognornis macroura^ Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 11 ; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 9, pl. 805. figs. 4873-75. 



Eupetomena macroura^ Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 254. 



Cynanthis macrourus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 149. 



Eupetomena macrura, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 14. 



Ornismya hirundinacea^ Dev. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1850, p. 214. 



Habitat. Brazil, Cayenne, and the neighbouring countries. 



M. Deville states that 'Hhis Humming-Bird sometimes accompanies the Chrysolampis moschitus into the fields, 

 but generally prefers the neighbourhood of the river-banks, where the silky tufts of the IngcE and the blossoms of 

 the numerous Lianes suffice for its wants. It flies very rapidly, has a shrill cry, and is so fearless that it wall settle 

 within a few feet of the object which has alarmed it. It is found throughout the whole of Brazil all the year 

 round, but appears to be most numerous in August, September, and October." 



Genus Sphenoproctus, Cab. 



Of this form there are evidently two species — one inhabiting Mexico, and the other Guatemala. It has 

 always been considered by Trochilidists that the 15th Plate of the Supplement to ' Lesson's Histoire Naturelle des 

 Oiseaux-mouches ' represents one or other of them, but that he was in error in giving the interior of La Plata as its 

 habitat. I have not been able to see Lesson's type; otherwise I could have ascertained to which of the two it has 

 reference, or whether it is different from both. My figures were taken from Guatemalan specimens, and Lesson's 

 plate w^ould appear to have been taken from an example procured in the same country ; consequently the term 

 Pampa must be retained for the Guatemalan bird, while for the larger and stouter Mexican birds we must use 

 Lichtenstein's name curvipennis. 



48. Sphenoproctus Pampa. 



Campylopterus Pampa, Less . Vol, IL PI. 43. 



Campylopterus pampa, Sclat. & Salv. Ibis, vol. i. p. 127 ; Salv. Ibis, vol. ii. p. 260. 

 Habitat. Guatemala. 



49. Sphenoproctus curvipennis. 



Trochilus curvipennis, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Thier. v. Deppe & Schiede (Sept. 1830), no. 32. 



Sphenoproctus pampa, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 11. 



Campylopterus pampa, Montes de Oca in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1860, p. 551. 



Habitat. Mexico. 



This species differs from the preceding in its much larger size, and in the paler tint of its blue crown. 



''The people of Coantepec, nine miles from Jalapa," says M. Montes de Oca, " give to this species the name 

 of Chupa-mirto fandanguero, or Fandango Myrtle-sucker, apparently because it has a somewhat musical voice. It 

 is the only Humming-Bird with which I am acquainted whose notes are sufficient to recognize it by in the woods : 

 though rather monotonous, they are very pleasing. It is occasionally found in the neighbourhood of Jalapa, but 

 it is more abundant at Coantepec. It inhabits the forest in the winter season, and generally feeds on the flowers 

 of the hio-h bushes called Asasaretos, which are then in full bloom, and densely covered with smooth emerald-green 

 leaves amongst which it is very difficult to be detected. Very few are to be seen in summer-time." 



N 



