TREATMENT OP WATER. 313 



quiver and play upon the sm-face 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 tint? 

 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 ti'ifling alterations and additions, when 

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

 dence. Occasionally, they may be diverted from their 

 ijriginal 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 separo en deux ruisseaux agiles. 

 Qui, se suivant I'un I'autre avec rapidity, 

 Disputent de vitesse et de limpidity ; 

 Puis, rejoignant tous deux le lit qui les rassemble, 

 Murmurent enehantes de voyager ensemble. 

 Ainsi, tonjours errant de detour en detour, 

 Muet, bruyant, paisible, inquiet tour a tour, 

 Sous mille aspects divers son cours se renouvelle." 



