THE GREAT MIRROR 



75 



pitch at odd angles the dark spots upon the 

 under portions or sides of them which em- 

 phasize their form and drawing, look like 

 shadows ; but such they are not. They are the 

 side reflections of neighboring waves or, more 

 often, wave-facets practically out of reflection 

 — M'ave-facets showing merely the color of sea 

 water. A very faint shadow is sometimes seen 

 under the crest of a breaker as it curls, curves, 

 and pitches forward to a fall, especially if the 

 water be muddy ; but a shadow on the open sea, 

 cast by its own waves, is really non-existent. 



This darkening of the reflection, this shading 

 of the mirror into a deeper hue by reason of 

 a ruffled surface, is very noticeable from the 

 dunes or cliffs looking seaward on a breezy day. 

 Not only is the whole sea darker than the sky, 

 but, wherever the gusts and flaws of wind can 

 be traced, patches of color will appear still 

 darker than the surrounding water. Fre- 

 quently these patches of broken surface show 

 extraordinary tints owing to eccentricities of 

 light. It is an everyday experience at sea to 

 find the water on one side of the ship looking 

 toward the horizon perhaps a deep blue, and 

 on the other side perhaps a pea-green. Again, 

 the light produces a different appearance as we 

 turn toward the sun or away from it. A road- 



Shndows on 

 water. 



Reflection 

 in ruffled 



Eceentriri- 

 lics of Hqht 

 and color. 



