3i6 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- 

 groimds, 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. 



