178 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



as if wounded, all the time keeping up a clamour 

 of hurried, angry notes somewhat resembling the 

 yelping cries of the Stilt* 



SPUR-WING LAPWING 



Vanellus cayennensis 



Above grey ; broad front and vertical crest black ; patch on the 

 scapulars purplish bronze ; upper tail-coverts white ; primaries 

 purplish black ; greater coverts white ; lesser wing-coverts bronze 

 green ; tail, basal half white, the other half purple-black tipped with 

 white ; beneath, chin, line down the middle of the throat and breast 

 shining black ; sides of neck grey, passing into white on the face ; 

 abdomen and under wing-coverts white ; bill, spur on wing, and feet 

 red ; eyes crimson ; length 13, wing 8.2 inches. Female similar. 



THE Lapwing of La Plata is considerably larger than 

 the well-known Lapwing of the Old World, but 

 closely resembles that bird in the general colour of 

 the plumage, in the long, slender, black crest, and 

 in general appearance. Throughout the Argentine 

 country it is called T&m-teru, from its ever-repeated 

 disyllabic cry ; west of the Andes the vernacular 

 name is Queltregua, also in imitation of its notes* It 

 has red legs, crimson irides, a rosy beak tipped with 

 black, and coral-red wing-spurs ; and these spots of 

 bright colour add to its bold, striking appearance. In 

 size, beauty, and spirit it is a king among the Plovers, 

 while its jealous, aggressive disposition gives it the 

 character of a tyrant amongst birds in general. On 

 the pastoral pampas (the district from which the 



