THE ART OF BARTRAM 103 



of the forests; how sweet the aromatic Illisium groves? how gaily 

 flutters the radiated wings of the Magnoha auriculata? each branch 

 supporting an expanded umbrella superbly crested with a silver plume, 

 fragrant blossom, or crimson studded strobile and fruits! I recline on 

 the verdant bank, and view the beauties of the groves, Aesculus pavia, 

 Prunus memoralis, floribus racemosis, . . . (pp. 407-8) . 



Nor are his reactions to sound, on occasion, less ecstatic. This 

 is his notation of evening sounds: 



How harmonius and soothing is this native sylvan music now at still 

 evening ! inexpressibly tender are the responsive cooings of the innocent 

 dove, in the fragrant Zanthoxilon groves, and the variable and tuneful 

 warblings of the nonpareil ; with the more sprightly and elevated strains 

 of the blue linnet and golden icterus; this is indeed harmony even 

 amidst the incessant croaking of the frogs; the shades of silent night 

 are made more chearful, with the shrill voice of the whip-poor-will and 

 active mock-bird. ... (p. 154). 



And this of running water: 



How harmonious and sweetly murmur the purling rills and fleeting 

 brooks, roving along the shadowy vales, passing through the dark, 

 subterranean caverns, or dashing over steep rocky precipices, . . . 

 (p. 322). 



But Bartram's descriptions of sound need special emphasis. They 

 are set down with such skill that their impression upon the 

 Romantic poets of his time is not surprising. They are varied 

 enough to include the gentle cooing of doves and the violent 

 roaring of tempests. He hears the lapping of the surf; " the 

 heavy tread of some animal " at night, " the dry limbs of trees 

 upon the ground" cracking "under his feet" (p. 158); the 

 " social prattling coot " and " the squeeling water-hen " (p. 

 159) ; the " languishing softness and melancholy air in the 

 Indian convivial songs " (p. 245) ; "the whooping of owls, 

 screaming of bitterns . . . the wood-rats running amongst the 

 leaves " (p. 124) ; the " various languages, cries, and flutter- 

 ing " of birds. He hears the different noises of frogs: that of 

 " the largest frog known in Florida," which resembles " the 

 grunting of a swine"; that of the bell frog, which "seems 

 clamorous and disgusting "; that of the green frog, which " ex- 

 actly resembles the barking of little dogs, or the yelping of 



