TREATMENT OF WATER. 313 



quiver and play upon the surface of the flood, and are 

 reflected back in dancing light, while their full glow upon 

 the broader and more open portions of the lake is relieved, 

 and brought into harmony by the cooler and softer tints 

 mirrored in the water from the surrounding hues and tints 

 of banks, rocks, and vegetation. 



Natural brooks and rivulets may often be improved 

 greatly by a few trifling alterations and additions, when 

 they chance to come within the bounds of a country resi- 

 dence. Occasionally, they may be diverted from their 

 original beds when they run through distant and unfre- 

 quented parts of the demesne, and brought through nearer 

 portions of the pleasure grounds or lawn. This, however, 

 can only be done with propriety when there is a natural 

 indication in the grounds through which it is proposed to 

 divert it as a succession of hollows, etc., to form the 

 future channel. Sometimes, a brisk little brook can be 

 divided into smaller ones for some distance, again uniting 

 at a point below, creating additional diversity by its vary- 

 ing form.* 



Brooks, rivulets, and even rills may frequently be greatly 

 improved by altering the form of their beds in various 

 places. Often by merely removing a few trifling obstruc- 

 tions, loose stones, branches, etc., or hollowing away the 



* The Abbe Delille has given us a fine image of a brook thus divided, ic 

 the following lines : 



" Plus loin, il se separe en deux ruisseaux agiles, 

 Qui, se suivant Pun 1'autre avec rapidit^, 

 Disputent do vitesse et de limpidite" ; 

 Puis, rejoignant tous deux le lit qui le rassemble, 

 Murmurent enchantes de voyager ensemble. 

 Ainsi, toujours errant de detour en detour, 

 Muet, bruyant, paisible, inquiet tour a tour, 

 Sous mille aspects divers son cours se renouvelle." 



