THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 69 
entered. The Trap is a circular opening, 
through which it is necessary to pass by de- 
scending a flight of steps. It is about five feet 
in diameter, over which is suspended a huge 
rock, like a dead-fall, by an apparently slight 
support, which, if it were to fall, would com- 
pletely close the avenue leading to Echo River. 
If, however, this opening should become closed, 
we will state, for the comfort of the timid, that 
there are three ways by which an escape might 
‘be effected. Thus: there is an avenue beyond 
it, which enters the bottom of the Bottomless 
Pit, from which a person might be drawn up by 
means of ropes; another avenue of escape would 
be by Bunyan’s Way, which leads into Pensa- 
cola Avenue; and a third, by Sparks’ Avenue 
and Mammoth Dome. The accompanying 
figure shows this Trap, with the guide stand- 
ing at the head of the steps. 
A short distance beyond the Scotchman’s 
Trap, in what is termed the Lower Branch, 
there is found a curiously-shaped rock, named 
the Shanghai Chicken, from its fancied resem- 
blance to that unsightly fowl. 
The next curiosity of note that is reached in 
our progress is one possessing great interest to 
men, and to women also, who are blessed with a 
