TREATMENT OF WATER. 
313 
quiver and play upon the surface 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 tints 
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 trifling alterations and additions, when 
they chance to come within the bounds of a country resi- 
dence. Occasionally, they may be diverted from their 
original 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 separe en deux ruisseaux agiles, 
Qui, se suivant l’un P autre avec rapidite, 
Disputent do vitesse et de limpidite ; 
Puis, rejoignant tous deux le lit qui les rassemble, 
Murmurent enchantes de voyager ensemble. 
Ainsi, toujours errant de detour en detour, 
Muet, bruyant, paisible, inquiet tour a tour, 
Sous mille aspects divers son cours se renouvelle.” 
