"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد I. ١٩١٨" [‎٦‎٣] (٥٦٨/٧٢)

FAUNA AND FLOEA 63
Mosquitoes are common, especially in the marshy districts, where
they are dangerous as carriers of infection. Flies are numerous and
troublesome in the summer heats, and may spread disease. Locusts
sometimes invade parts of the country, and may cause great destruc
tion over wide areas. The plains E. of the Tigris are especially
liable to be ravaged by locusts which come in April and May from
the Kurdish hills. Poisonous snakes and scorpions are in general
fairly common.
On domesticated animals see Chapter XI, pp. 182-8.
Flora
On cultivated plants see Chapter XI, pp. 176-82.
In the plains of Mesopotamia the natural vegetation consists
chiefly of grass and low-growing plants; wild trees are in general
very scarce. In the hills there is a good deal of scattered wooding,
and areas of woodland and forest occur ; but on the whole the hill-
country is not very rich in timber; much has been destroyed by the
wastefulness of the inhabitants.
The Great
As a very large proportion of the inhabitants of Mesopotamia are
dependent on their live-stock for their prosperity and even for
their existence, vegetation which supplies grazing is of the first
importance.
The grasses of the plains are produced by the winter and spring
rainfall. They are most abundant in spring (about April), when
they cover enormous areas, and are interspersed with many kinds of
flowers. In the summer heat they are for the most part soon dried
up ; only here and there, where the soil is particularly well watered,
as along wadis or rivers, or in oases, is grass to be found in the late
summer and early autumn. This decrease of vegetation in the
summer drives the Kurds to migrate from the edges of the plain-
country to the highlands, while the nomad Arabs occupy the parts
of the plains where grazing is still available.
There are a number of plants on which camels can find grazing
throughout the year, e. g. the thorny plant (camel-thorn), which
is very common. 1
In addition to these forage-plants the deserts are dotted here and
there with mimosa scrub.
1 Agul is used for cooling rooms or tents in summer. It is made into screens
on which water is poured so as to cool the air in its passage.