74



Mr. D. Seth-Smith,



the highest branches of the trees, which here grew to such a

height that their topmost branches were practically out of range

of a shot gun. However I soon secured a specimen which proved

to be the beautiful Pileated Parrakeet, Porphyrocephalus pileatus.

After this I was able to identify many of these birds which

generally flew about in pairs or small parties of three or four

individuals. Fantail Flycatchers, White-breasted Robins (. Eop -

saltria leucogaster), several species of Honeyeaters and Thick¬

heads ( Pachycephahis ) were also noticed.


On arrival at the entrance to the Mammoth Cave I strolled

round amongst the giant Karri trees which there grow profusely,

and was rewarded by the sight of a large flock of small Lorikeets

which came swinging into the tree tops at a tremendous pace.

They were very wild, and dashed off again as I approached the

foot of the tree. It was impossible to see their colours, but they

were doubtless Purple-crowned Lorikeets ( G/ossopsitlacus porphy¬

rocephalus). On approaching close to the entrance to the Cave a

party of four Stanley Parrakeets ( Pl'atycercus icterotis) flew up from

the ground and settled amongst the high branches of a tree. We

saw several of these pretty Parrakeets, they were not at all timid,

allowing us to approach them fairly closely as they fed on the

seeds of the various wattles.


The Mammoth Cave is so called on account of its large

size. My pen is not capable of adequately describing its wonders,

so I will quote the following description by Mr. Erskine May,

from the Western Australian Year Book for 1900-01 :—


“This cave . . . has been given the name of “ Mam¬


moth ” on account of its majestic proportions and its colossal

- formations. The entrance to the cave has an Eastern aspect,

and, surrounded as it is by an exuberant growth of ferns, roughly

hidden amongst the giant trees of Australia—the noble Karri—is

most charmingly and imposingly situated. Passing through it,

an enormous dome is entered, which contains many stalactites of

the greatest beauty. This portion of the cave is best seen at

night time, as otherwise the daylight prying through the entrance

detracts considerably from the mysterious beauty of the scene

within. From the door of the cave to its furthermost recess,

wonder after wonder presents itself at almost every step, but



