Oldal 90 [90]
50 LIGHT AND WATER
given as further instances of this general tendency.
In the first of these the ripple (except in the wash of
the steamer from which the view was taken) is very
slight. The vertical lines of the buildings are distinctly
repeated in the reflexion, the horizontal lines having,
of course, disappeared. In Plate XVIII there is more
ripple and a greater amount of sky reflexion, leaving
comparatively vague streaks from the domes and
towers of the church. Plate XIX represents a further
stage. The motion of the water is much livelier, and
nothing approaching to a definite reflexion of the
yacht appears—not a sign of the mast, and only the
vaguest of streaks from the sails. We have added a
photograph of reflexions in slightly rough ice (Plate
XX), which may be compared to reflexions in rough
water on a small scale.. The vertical lines of the tree
stems, though much blurred, are preserved, and there
is no visible reflexion of the horizontal branches of
the tree on the left. Much the same sort of effect is
given by rain falling on still water.
Owing to the elongation of the image in rippled
water it sometimes happens that with the approach
of a breeze an object becomes visible by reflexion
which in the perfectly smooth water did not appear
at all. This might be the case if one were standing
on the high cliff at E, Fig. 4. As before explained,
one cannot from this point see anything of the house
in the smooth water, but if the image were prolonged
on the rippled surface to twice or thrice its normal
length, it would then become visible by reflexion from
the farther sides of the waves. Another curious effect
may be noted. In the first chapter attention was