he glossy ibis is
occasionally seen. The flamingo, common in the lakes of Lower Egypt,
is not found on the Nile. Geese, duck and teal are abundant. The most
common goose is the white-fronted variety; the Egyptian goose is more
rare. Both varieties are depicted on the ancient monuments; the
white-fronted goose being commonly shown. Several birds of gorgeous
plumage come north into Egypt in the spring, among others the golden
oriole, the sun-bird, the roller and the blue-cheeked bee-eater.

_Egypt as a Health Resort._--The country is largely resorted to during
the winter months by Europeans in search of health as well as
pleasure. Upper Egypt is healthier than Lower Egypt, where, especially
near the coast, malarial fevers and diseases of the respiratory organs
are not uncommon. The least healthy time of the year is the latter
part of autumn, when the inundated soil is drying. In the desert, at a
very short distance from the cultivable land, the climate is uniformly
dry and unvaryingly healthy. The most suitable places for the
residence of invalids are Helwan, where there are natural mineral
springs, in the desert, 14 m. S. of Cairo, and Luxor and Assuan in
Upper Egypt.

The diseases from which Egyptians suffer are very largely the result
of insanitary surroundings. In this respect a great improvement has
taken place since the British occupation in 1882. Plague, formerly one
of the great scourges of the country, seems to have been stamped out,
the last visitation having been in 1844, but cholera epidemics
occasionally occur.[2] Cholera rarely extends south of Cairo. In 1848
it is believed that over 200,000 persons died from cholera, but later
epidemics have been much less fatal. Smallpox is not uncommon, and
skin diseases are numerous, but the two most prevalent diseases among
the Egyptians are dysentery and ophthalmia. The objection entertained
by many natives to entering hospitals or to altering their traditional
methods of "cure" renders these diseases much more malignant and fatal
than they would be in other circumstances. The government, however,
enforces certain health regulations, and the sanitary service is under
the direction of a European official.

_Chief Towns._--Cairo (q.v.) the capital, a city of Arab foundation, is
built on the east bank of the Nile, about 12 m, above the point where
the river divides, and in reference to its situation at th