Some time ago a photographer made quite a sensation by the publication
of a fine photograph of a mirage, a phenomenon frequently observed on
the plains of Egypt. The wily photographer had, however, never
traveled away from this country. He had simply produced the effect by
artificial means. A method of making these pictures was given some
time ago in the _Scientific American_. A very even plate of sheet iron
is taken and placed horizontally on two supports. The plate is heated
uniformly and sprinkled with sand. Then a small Egyptian landscape is
arranged at one end of the plate, and the photographic instrument is
so placed that the visual ray shall properly graze the plate. A sketch
of the arrangement is shown in Fig. 82.