The color ash brown has been used in literature as a subtle yet distinctive hue to describe a range of subjects—from human features to the intricate markings of birds and even the speckled patterns on eggs. For instance, it is employed to give a precise character detail, as seen in the description of a character’s hair in [1] and a general physical complexion in [2]. In ornithological contexts, writers evoke the tone of ash brown to outline various parts of a bird’s plumage. It appears in descriptions of the breast or upper parts of birds, contrasting with white, chestnut, or black markings to create a vivid yet naturalistic portrait, as illustrated in [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], and [12]. Even the delicate coloring of eggs is rendered with ash brown accents in [13]. Overall, the use of ash brown in these examples emphasizes an understated, natural elegance that enriches the visual imagery in literary descriptions.
- Hugh’s hair was ash brown and dull—Stephen’s darker, growing to black—but as dull.
— from The Invisible Foe
A Story Adapted from the Play by Walter Hackett by Louise Jordan Miln
- His colour is a dark ash brown.
— from Natural History in Anecdote
Illustrating the nature, habits, manners and customs of animals, birds, fishes, reptiles, etc., etc., etc.
- All the secondaries are barred with ash brown, whereas in the Common Sandpipers the eighth and ninth are nearly white.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
- Chin white; breast ash brown, bordered with a narrow white transverse band; lower breast chestnut; belly black.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
- The basal half is of an ash brown, and the remaining portion, toward the point, is nearly white.
— from Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXV, No. 2, August 1849 by Various
- The young differ from the autumn plumage of the adults in having the chin white and the rest of the under parts thickly barred with ash brown.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
- After the autumn moult the chin and throat are white and the upper parts ash brown.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
- It has the whole of the under parts ash brown, barred with black, and the light stripes on the back are absent.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
- The upper parts are of a uniform ash brown, under parts buffish white thickly spotted with dark brown.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
- In the autumn plumage the general colour is ash brown above and greyish below.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
- The upper parts are ash brown, mottled with white on the upper tail coverts.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
- Cheeks and chin are white, flecked with dark brown; chest and flanks ash brown; rest of under parts white.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote
- The eggs are five or six in number and bluish white spotted and blotched with ash brown.
— from Birds of Britain by J. Lewis (John Lewis) Bonhote