128 



NATURE FOE ITS OWN SAKE 



more gorgeous coloring, running at times 

 through almost every note of the scale, is seen 

 at twilight in the short, lapping waves off the 

 western coast of Scotland. The Mediterranean 

 about Spain and Algiers, the Adriatic at Ven- 

 ice, the seas of the Southern Pacific are won- 

 derful in their color harmony, but in inten- 

 sity of hue they seem less positive than at the 

 North. 



Dawns and sunsets far out on the open water 

 are seldom so varied or so gorgeous as near or 

 over the land. The air at sea is less charged 

 with dust than moisture, and ruddiness of col- 

 oring is not perhaps so possible of attainment. 

 Occasionally, however, in the summer months 

 there is a sharp display of colors as the sun 

 comes up or goes down over the water-line. I 

 find in one of my note-books the following 

 memoranda : 



"July 11. Gulf Stream : The sunset colors are deep- 

 orange, pink, and yellow, with greenish hues in the sky 

 spaces ; a fog-bank just beneath the sun is lilac-hued, 

 turning to purple. The smooth water resplendent like a 

 gold floor ; far up the zenith the wispy cirrus clouds are 

 shining like snow against the blue." 



" July 14. Bright yellow sunset, light from the blue 

 not very clear, yellow sun-shafts. The sun is barred 

 with dark purple clouds. In the east, north, and south 

 pale tints of lilac, pearl-gray, and pink." 



