42 A-BIRDING ON A BRONCO. 



could see me, she whizzed toward it ; but, fear- 

 ful, hesitated and talked it over with her mate 

 — both birds cooed with inflated breaths. After 

 that the branches rattled overhead, but even then, 

 though my back was turned, the timid bird dared 

 not stay. She must make another inspection. 

 From an opposite oak she peered through the 

 branches, moving her head excitedly, and calling 

 out her impressions to her mate. Meanwhile, he 

 had flown down the sand stream and called back 

 quite calmly. I, also, cooed reassuringly to her, 

 and soon she quieted down and began to plume her 

 feathers on the sunny branch. As the gnatcatch- 

 ers did not honor us with their attention even 

 when Billy stalked around in plain sight, I moved 

 a little closer to their nest to give the dove more 

 freedom ; and soon the gentle bird slipped back 

 to her brooding. 



Before leaving I went to see the dove in the 

 oak, and spoke caressingly to her, admiring her 

 soft dove-colored feathers and shining iridescent 

 neck. She was on her own ground there, and felt 

 that she could safely be friends, so she only 

 winked in the sun, paying no heed to her mate 

 when he called warningly. It was es})ecially 

 pleasant to watch this reserved lady-like bird, 

 after the flippant tell-all-you-know little gnat. 



On going away, Billy and I took a run up the 

 canyon. Billy was in high spirits, and went 

 racing up the narrow road, winding and turning 



