76



Mr. D. Seth-Smith,



lake, about two feet above the water is the “ Suspended Table.”

It is 15 feet long by 7 feet wide and about one inch in thickness

and is hung from the ceiling of the cave by two enormous

stalactites.


During our drive home we made two captures, the first

being a Stump-tailed Lizard (Trachysaurus rugosus) which lay in

the centre of the roadway and only opened its big mouth as the

horses passed over it, fortunately without touching it. These

lizards or “ Yarners,” as the Aboriginals call them, are about

twelve inches in length and covered with large scales which vary

much in colour according to the hue of the soil upon which

they are found. They are very slow movers, trusting for safety

to their wonderfully protective coloration, and merely opening

their great mouths when one goes to pick them up. Our second

capture was a young “ Squeaker,” which had evidently just left

the nest. I saw this bird fly up from the roadway on to a mound

at the side, and, jumping down from the buggy, gave chase. It

could fly a little and gave some trouble in catching, but I finally

secured it, and deposited it in a basket in the buggy. I fed this

bird on raw meat and bread and milk and it got on well, being

almost able to feed itself when I left Perth a few days later. But,

alas, on my return three months later to take away my Western

Australian stock, I learned that my “Squeaker” had died.


During our drive home a large Kangaroo crossed the road¬

way in front of the buggy, going at a great rate. It belonged to

the Western form of the Great Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus),

which has been separated as a sub-species under the name of M.

vielanotus.


The following morning a very young Rat Kangaroo ( Betton -

gia penicillata ) was brought in by a man who had heard that I

wanted any kind of living creatures that could be procured. This

was a charming little animal and showed no sign of fear. It

wanted a pouch to sleep in, so we procured an old tea-cosy which

it immediately took a “ header ” into and curled up to sleep. I

fed it on warm milk from a spoon, and it got on well and was

eventually reared to maturity in the Perth Zoo, and formed part

of the collection that I brought home.


The sea-shore was within two or three miles of 11s, and



