The Dawson Leuco 



smitten, as must in the nature of things sometimes happen, the couple 

 adjourn to some cave among the rocks and carry out the purpose of love in 

 secret. If the lady is only shy, she sidles off, or flits, and there is instant 

 pursuit. The couple charge about like meteors amuck, and if they do not 

 dash their brains out, it is a good sign that love is not blind. But if, as 

 oftener happens, the lady is either previously engaged, or minded to try 

 out the young swain's professions, she makes spiteful dabs at her admirer 

 while he falls back in pretended and ecstatic alarm. Oftener still, the 



swain is addressing a law- 

 fully wedded wife, for it 

 seems to be his principle to 

 try all doors till one of them 

 yields. In that case, the 

 lady tells him quickly to 

 be off about his business, 

 and is obeyed, or else — 

 an avenging bolt falls out 

 of the blue. The lawfully 

 wedded husband, who nine 

 times in ten is on the job, 

 whether near or remote, 

 falls upon that young ras- 

 cal and either chases him 

 clear out of bounds, or ad- 

 ministers an actual drub- 

 bing. There seem to be 

 more males than females, 

 and it is proper form for 

 the ladies to be always at- 

 tended in public by their 

 mates. 



On this evening in 

 question we followed the 

 fortunes of a score of these 

 advances and retreats, or 

 sudden flights, but sorted 

 out only two events of any significance: A male bird fed his mate (or 

 young) once in a crevice only a dozen feet up on the opposite wall ; and an 

 unattended female, who fed quietly over the snow for half an hour, had 

 such an authoritative way in "bouncing" her unwelcome admirers, that 

 we kept our eyes focused upon her ultimate determinations. The signifi- 

 cant moment came. When the shades of night were gathering thickly, she 



165 



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Taken in Mono County Photo by the Author 



A CIRCUMSPECT APPROACH 



CLAMORING YOUNG ASSIST THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S CAUSE 



