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Show () LETTER FROM MR.W, H. HUDSON. [Jan. 3, warm weather, the larvae of our Great-horned Beetle rise to the surface, throwing up little mounds of earth as Moles do ; often they are so numerous as to give the plains, where the grass is very closely cropped, the appearance of being covered with mud. These insects afford a rich harvest to the Teru-teru (Vanellus cayennensis), which in such plentiful seasons are to be seen all day diligently running about, probing and dislodging them from under the fresh hillocks. Tbe Gulls, not having been endowed with a probing bill, avail themselves of their superior cunning and violence to rob the Terus. I have often watched their proceedings for hours with the greatest interest. Many hundred Terus are perhaps visible running busily about the plain on all sides ; near each one a Gull is quietly standing regarding his intended dupe with the closest attention. The instant a great white larva is extracted, the Gull darts with such sudden fury to seize it, that the Teru is forced to take wing, and a violent chase ensues. The depredator follows close upon the Plover in all his turns, screaming all the time, until the Teru, frightened or tired out, drops the prize, and slopes towards the earth with a disappointed cry ; instantly the pursuer's flight is checked, he hovers a moment, watching the worm fall, then straight and suddenly drops himself after it, swallows it with customary greediness, and hastens after the Teru to resume his watch. " Many Gulls constantly hover about the Estancias to feed on the garbage that is usually found in abundance about cattle-breeding establishments. When a cow is slaughtered they collect in great numbers, and quarrel with the domestic fowls 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 its carcass in company with the Chimango. Numbers of them are constantly seen soaring over the low shores of the river, and, when the tide goes out, quarrel on the sands over dead fish, stranded fry, or whatever animal refuse may have been left. " The slaughter-grounds adjacent to the city are also haunted by hosts of these neat and beautiful scavengers. Here numbers may be seen hovering overhead, and mingling their excited cries with the bellowing of thousands of wild cattle and the shouts of men at their rough work-at intervals, wherever a little space is afforded, dropping themselves on to the ground reeking with clotted blood and entrails, greedily snatching up whatever morsels they can on the instant, and yet getting no speck or stain on their delicate dress of lily white and ethereal blue. " It is only when their food is very abundant that the Gulls move in great bodies; at other times they are seen singly or in small parties ; but at night they often congregate in myriads in some large pool^ where they will sometimes keep up a great screaming until morning'. " Their curiosity or anger seems greatly excited by the appearance of a person on foot on the open plains ; no sooner has the Gull spied him, than he sweeps toward him with a rapid flight, utterino- loud indignant screams, that invariably attract all its fellows within |