Genus Eupetomena

Generic characters.

Male.—Bill longer than the head, and slightly arched; wings moderate; shafts of the first two or three primaries 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 (Gould)

  Habitat: Brazil, Cayenne, and the neighbouring countries.

  Plate 42 Eupetomena hirundinacea Swallow-tail

  M. Deville states that “this Humming-Bird sometimes accompanies the Chrysolampis moschitus to the fields, but generally prefers the neighbourhood of the river-banks, where the silky tufts of the Ingæ 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 will 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.”

  • 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.
  • Cynanthus 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.

Supplemental

• Eupetomena hirundo Western Swallow-tail