BARTRAM'S INFLUENCE ON LITERATURE 171 



Coleridge, we have seen, remembered this passage, and its gen- 

 eral similarity to Wordsworth's lines is striking. But other quo- 

 tations amplify this similarity. For instance: 



It is a pleasing sight at times of high winds and heavy thunder, to 

 observe the numerous squadrons of these Spanish curlews driving to 

 and fro, turning and tacking about, high up in the air, when by their 

 various evolutions in the different and opposite currents of the wind 

 . . . their plumage gleams and sparkles . . . reflecting the sunbeams . . . 

 (p. 149). 



This is the paragraph just preceding the one from which Words- 

 worth drew his wood-pelican sitting on his cypress spire. But 

 still another passage, again about the savanna crane, may have 

 contributed to the picture in Wordsworth's mind: 



The sonorous savanna crane, in well disciplined squadrons, now rising 

 from the earth, mount aloft in spiral circles, far above the dense 

 atmosphere of the humid plain; they again view the glorious sun, and 

 the light of day still gleaming on their polished feathers, they sing 

 their hymn, then in a strait line majestically descend, and alight on 

 the towering Palms or loftj' Pines, their secure and peaceful lodging 

 places ... (p. 190). 



Furthermore, it is to be noted that in the Guide to the hakes 

 these twenty-seven lines appear on page 37, one page before 

 the description of the floating islands — " a lusus naturae fre- 

 quent on the great rivers of America " — which has already 

 been discussed. 



The resemblances of Coleridge's owls to Bartram's have been 

 noted. In Wordsworth, too, owls hoot. His boy of Winander 



Blew mimic hootings to the silent owls, 

 That they might answer him; and they would shout 

 Across the watery vale, and shout again. 

 Responsive to his call, with quivering peals, 

 And long halloos and screams, and echoes loud, 

 Redoubled and redoubled . . . {Prelude, V, 373-78) 



" Is it pure coincidence," asks Professor Cooper, " that Bartram 

 employs similar diction for the same bird 7 — 



I was awakened and greatly surprised by the terrifying screams of 

 Owls . . screaming and shouting, which increased and spread every 



