286 COLOUR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. 



blue colour of the sk)-. The clearer the air and the 

 tiller the particles suspended in the upper regions, the 

 bluer the vault of heaven. When there is much impurity 

 in the atmosphere the skA- becomes gre-\- : without any 

 impurit\' it would appear black as does interstellar space. 

 In southern seas the blue is less intense near the coast, 

 and here green tones are seen ^\'hcn the water is more 

 troiililed. Changes of colour often ensue when the im- 

 purities are stirred up hv a rough sea. It is only in 

 shallow water that tire bottcjm rellects its colour and 

 imparts it to the water. Tlie statement, therefore, that the 

 southern seas o^ve their deep blue to reflection from the 

 sk\' is quite incorrect. The Mediterranean can look 

 blue e\en when the heavens are overcast. Still those 

 who ha\e been fortimate enough to see and admire the 

 exquisite colouring of the southern seas know that the 

 tint of their \Naters is intkienced bv the ci'mclition of 

 the sk\': that their wide expanse re-flects the changing 

 phases of the lirmamcnt, laughing and weeping, as it 

 were, in harmon\-. clothed at eventide in purple, mourning 

 in tile deep half shades of a clouch' da^-, gleaming like 

 gold in the sun and like silver in the moonlight. Thus 

 in its endless changes the sea, ne\'er monotonous, charms 

 us with its magic spell. 



At Mcntone the Jvlediterranean soon attains a con- 

 sideralile depth. The bottom sinks rapidh', so that at 

 aliout twent\--li\e miles from the shore the sounding- 

 line registers (S,25() feet. 



Nobod\ ventures to bathe here in the ^\ inter, and 

 ^■et tin- temperature i_>t the \\ater does not tall below 



