OCR
104 LIGHT AND WATER the lighter part of the sky, where the reflected light is far stronger, it may be hardly noticeable. As explained 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 spectator, 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 considerable 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 everyday occurrence in fine weather off the chalky shores of the Channel (see page 77), they are rarely to be