STILL WATERS 
181 
lake-banks or under the shade of an overhang- 
ing tree that completely shuts out the sky, we 
can see the hue of the water ; but here again 
we have to reckon with the reflected green of 
the tree or the color of the bottom. We must 
look through the reflection, and not a¢ it. Even 
then, and under the most favorable conditions, 
we are often deceived into thinking the water 
one color, when in reality it is another. And 
just here begins another complication. 
I said that smooth water, like a mirror, is 
always throwing back from its face ‘‘ some like- 
ness” in light, form, and color of whatever is 
above it. Its ight is always feebler than the 
original, but its color is almost an exact like- 
ness, provided the water is very clear and pure. 
The tall cumulus cloud, the blue sky, the dawn, 
the sunset, and the rainbow, are all given in the 
lake reflection with accuracy, but with perhaps 
more delicacy than in the original. This is par- 
ticularly true of the sky and the clouds. The 
hue in the reflection is more refined and silk-tis- 
sued, and the lines of the clouds are less posi- 
tively defined. Now deeply colored or darkened 
water will reflect a likeness, too, reflect it in 
form quite as sharply as clear water, but the 
color will also be deepened and darkened. On 
Confusion 
of hues. 
Phases of 
rejlection. 
