It is not uncommon to see these birds fly up with a long snake pending from their beak, the bird holding the reptile by the neck, just behind the head; but as the snake hangs down without motion, and appears dead, it is probable that the bird destroys them upon the ground before it conveys them into the tree. From these circumstances, although they may now and then “make away” with an egg, or recently hatched chicken, by mistake for other food, yet there ought to be a prohibition against their being injured, as the vermin destroyed by them amply repay such trifling losses. This is the first bird heard in the morning, and the last (among the day-birds) at night; it rises with the dawn, when the woods re-echo with its gurgling laugh; at sunset they are again heard, and as that glorious orb sinks in the westward, a last “good night” is given in its peculiar tones to all within hearing.
At this farm, close to the Murrumbidgee river, and on the almost perpendicular side of a limestone hill, which rises in the midst of this wooded valley, the rocks partially scattered with herbage, shrubs, and stunted casuarina-trees, is the entrance to a spacious cavern; there are others of smaller size sprinkled about different parts of the same mass of limestone, but this seems to be the most spacious; they were originally pointed out by the natives to the overseer of the farm, but were first explored by Mr. Dutton, and some friends.
The day after our arrival we visited the cave, taking materials to produce a light, by which we might explore these recesses with more facility. The approach to this cavern is through a thick jungle of grass, reeds, veronica, fern brake, (Pteris,) &c.: much caution is required, more particularly when on horseback, on account of the number of wombat burrows which abound about the spot. A slight ascent brought us to the spacious and lofty entrance into which the horses were easily led, and conveniently stabled; this may be truly said to form the waiting-hall for admission into the two ranges of chambers which branch off in different directions, as seen in the accompanying diagram of a supposed section.
GUDARIGBY CAVERNS.
- A. Entrance to the great cavern.
- B. Entrance to the lesser cavern.
- C. The “Grand Hall” of the Cavern; lofty and most spacious.
- D. Second Cavern, not extensive, but there are several small caverns above it.
- E. Termination of the great cavern.
The entrance is probably about eighteen or twenty feet broad, and thirty or forty feet high, abounding in large stalactites, incrusting and pending from all parts of the interior, as well as separate masses like columns, supporting the roof. Having made a fire and lighted our torches, we entered the cavern to the right, [A in the diagram,] and ascending over some loose earth, entered a narrow vestibule, capable of admitting only one person at a time; it was encrusted above, and on all sides, by stalactites of various forms which presented a glittering appearance, as the light from the torches fell upon them. A number of a small species of bat, disturbed by our presence in their dark retreat, flew about, and we captured many of them: several of their skeletons pending from the rocks, indicated that it afforded them a mausoleum, as well as a retreat during life.
As we proceeded, the cavern became more lofty and expansive; but although able, from the elevation, to walk erect, we were obliged to take care of occasional projections from the rocks on each side. As the light from the torches fell upon the white glittering fantastic forms of the stalactites which hung from the roofs and covered the sides, the effect was highly pleasing. We came at last to a descent of fine loose earth, in which some wombats had been burrowing, and much care was necessary to avoid falling into the gaping entrances. The descent having been effected, we found ourselves in the most lofty, beautiful, and spacious part of this extensive cavern; we termed it the “grand hall:” immense masses of stalactites, (to which fancied resemblance of forms had occasioned the names of the altar, organ-pipes, &c., to be given,) had a beautiful appearance: enormous pending stalactites adorned the lofty roof, and the whole scene had by torchlight an inconceivably grand and splendid effect. At several places the ground upon which we walked gave a hollow sound when struck, and masses of decomposed limestone were abundantly mingled with a fine black earth. Proceeding some distance further, we arrived at the termination.[84]
After our return from exploring the great cavern, we entered the smaller one; [B in the diagram;] its extent is limited, but the stalactites within were of great beauty and variety of forms; my attention was here attracted by the multitude of small bones mingled with dust, which lay near and about the entrance of this cavern; how they came in this situation merits enquiry, for here alone did I observe them; they appeared belonging to some animals of the Rodentia family, consisting of skulls and other portions of the skeleton, some, indeed nearly the whole, were in a perfect condition: near the spot I picked up a small mass of stalactite, which appeared to have been broken off from some portion of the cavern, but its exact position I could not discover, in which small bones, similar to those scattered about, were imbedded. The specimen I preserved and sent to England.[85]