TREATMENT OF WATER. 
331 
and will add nothing to the appearance of the whole view 
from the usual points of sight, it may be concealed by an 
island or a small group of islands, placed at some little dis- 
tance in front of it. The head or dam of a lake too, is often 
necessarily so formal and abrupt, that it is difficult to make 
it appear natural and in good keeping with the rest of the 
margin. The introduction of an island or two, placed near 
the main shore, on either side, and projecting as far as pos- 
sible before the dam, will greatly diminish this disagreeable 
formality, particularly if well clothed with a rich tuft of 
shrubs and overhanging bushes. 
Except in these two instances, islands should be generally 
placed opposite the salient points of the banks, or near those 
places where small breaks or promontories run out into the 
water. In such situations, they will increase the irregularity 
of the outline, and lend it additional spirit and animation. 
Should they, on the other hand, be seated in or near the 
marginal curve and indentations, they will only serve to clog 
up these recesses ; and while their own figures are lost in 
these little bays where they are hidden, by lessening the 
already existing irregularities, they will render the whole 
outline tame and spiritless. 
On one or two of these small islands, little rustic habita- 
tions, if it coincide with the taste of the proprietor, may be 
made for different aquatic birds or water fowl, which will 
much enliven the scene by their fine plumage. Among 
these the swan is pre-eminent, for its beauty and graceful- 
ness. Abroad, they are the almost constant accompaniments 
of water in the ground of country residences ; and it cannot 
be denied that, floating about in the limpid wave, with their 
snow-white plumage, and superbly curved necks, they are 
extremely elegant objects. 
