Stranica 170 [170]
104 LIGHT AND WATER
the lighter part of the sky, where the reflected light
is far stronger, it may be hardly noticeable. As ex¬
plained on page 78, it is in the reflexion of dark
objects that the colour of water shows most plainly.
This local colour will, of course, be still more apparent
when the sunlight is no longer hidden, and bursts out,
striking the water under the dark clouds. Here we
have a remarkable instance of dissimilarity between
sea and sky. The clouds may be inky black, yet the
water, lighted up by the sun from behind the spec¬
tator, appears to him of a vivid green colour.
Heavy clouds, floating in a luminous sky, or bright
patches in a dull sky, give rise on the surface of the
water to masses of light and shade, which take the
form in the picture of vertical bands (see page 47).
The effect in a lively sea may be so broad as easily
to escape observation, but where there is any con¬
siderable variety of tone in the sky it is none the less
existent. The darker bands in the water will of
course show more local colour, and the lighter bands
more reflexion colour, a very strong sky reflexion
entirely masking the colour of the water.
But, in addition to these cloud reflexions, we often
see definite cloud shadows floating across the surface
of the water, and adding greatly to its beauty of
colour. They are generally of a slightly purple or
pinkish hue, and vary somewhat in colour with the
colour of the water on which they fall (see Note at
end of chapter). In the distance they assume the
form of horizontal streaks or lines. Though of every¬
day occurrence in fine weather off the chalky shores
of the Channel (see page 77), they are rarely to be