BARTRAM'S INFLUENCE ON LITERATURE 165 



wood-pelican, dejectedly perched upon its utmost elevated spire; he 

 there, like an ancient venerable sage, sets himself up as a mark of 

 derision, for the safety of his kindred tribes (pp. 48-49) . 



As regards the pelican, Bartram, in another place, has a more 

 detailed description of this bird which may have helped to 

 strengthen Wordsworth's image. After describing the size, 

 shape, color, and feeding habits of the bird, Bartram continues: 



This solitary bird does not associate in flocks, but is generally seen 

 alone; ... he stands alone on the topmost limb of tall dead Cypress 

 trees, his neck contracted or drawn in upon his shoulders, and beak 

 resting like a long scythe upon his breast: in this pensive posture and 

 solitary situation, they look extremely grave, sorrowful and melancholy, 

 as if in the deepest thought (p. 150). 



And as regards Wordsworth's " warbled from crowds In under- 

 coverts," Professor Cooper quotes ^° Bartram's 



At the cool eve's approach, the sweet enchanting melody of the 

 feathered songsters gradually ceases, and they betake themselves to 

 their leafy coverts for security and repose (pp. 81-82), 



and calls attention to pp. 105-106 (" The squadrons of aquatic 

 fowls, . . . hastening to their leafy coverts ... I was lulled asleep 

 by the mixed sounds of the wearied surf . . . and the tender 

 warblings of the . . . winged inhabitants of the groves ") . An- 

 other passage Professor Cooper quotes is the one about the 

 small birds appearing suddenly in Pennsylvania, in the spring; 

 this has already been quoted in connection with Coleridge's 

 " Ancient Mariner." 



Again Professor Cooper detects in Wordsworth a dissatis- 

 faction with Bartram's " excessive richness of sub-tropical life 

 and colour." ^^ He points out that Wordsworth in adapting the 

 Altamaha piece omitted all the scented blossoms and " incense- 

 bearing " trees with which Bartram's landscape is adorned, and 

 that when he turns from the ideal back to the existing university 

 his method of disparagement implies a disapproval of Bartram's 

 landscape as well: 



In vain for such solemnity I looked; 



Mine eyes were crossed by butterflies, ears vexed 



•" Athenaeum, April 22, 1905, p. 499. " Ibid. 



