252 THE LIFE OF TEE FIELDS. 



THE PIGEONS AT THE BRITISH 

 MUSEUM. 



The front of the British Museum stands in the sunlight 

 clearly marked against the firm blue of the northern 

 sky. The blue appears firm as if solid above the angle 

 of the stonework, for while looking towards it — to- 

 wards the north — the rays do not come through the 

 azure, which is therefore colour without life. It seems 

 nearer than the southern sky, it descends and forms 

 a close background to the building ; as you approach 

 you seem to come nearer to the blue surface rising at 

 its rear. The dark edges of sloping stone are distinct 

 and separate, but not sharp ; the hue of the stone is 

 toned by time and weather, and is so indefinite as to 

 have lost its hardness. Those small rounded bodies 

 upon the cornice are pigeons resting in the sun, so 

 motionless and neutral-tinted that they might be 

 mistaken for some portion of the carving. A double 

 gilt ring, a circle in a circle, at the feet of an allego- 

 rical figure gleams brightly against the dark surface. 

 The sky already seems farther away seen between the 

 boles of stone, perpetual shade dwells in their depth, 

 but two or three of the pigeons fluttering down are 

 searching for food on the sunlit gravel at the bottom 



