216 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
Gulls, unprovided with a ffobing beak, avail them- 
selves of their superior cunning and violence to rob - 
the Lapwings; and I have often watched their pro- 
ceedings for hours with the greatest interest. Hun- 
dreds of Lapwings are perhaps visible running 
busily about on all sides; near each one a Gull is 
quietly stationed, watching the movements of its 
intended dupe with the closest attention. The 
instant a great snow-white grub is extracted the 
Gull makes a rush to seize it, the Lapwing flies, and 
a violent chase ensues. After a hundred vain doub- 
lings the Plover drops the prize, and slopes toward 
the earth with a disappointed cry; the pursuer 
checks his flight, hovers a moment watching the 
grub fall, then drops down upon it, gobbles it up, 
and hastens after the Lapwing to resume his watch. 
Many of these Gulls haunt the estancias to feed 
on the garbage usually found in abundance about 
cattle-breeding establishments. When a cow is 
slaughtered they collect in large numbers and quarrel 
with the domestic poultry over the offal. They are 
also faithful attendants at the shepherd’s hut; and 
if a dead lamb remains in the fold when the flock 
goes to pasture they regale on it in company with 
the Chimango. The great saladeros, or slaughter- 
grounds, which were formerly close to Buenos Ayres, 
were also frequented by hosts of these neat and 
beautiful scavengers. Here numbers were seen hover- 
ing overhead, mingling their excited screams with 
the bellowing of half-wild cattle and the shouts of 
the slaughterers at their rough work ; and at intervals, 
