316 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



Gulls, unprovided with a probing 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, 



