lS2 



HARDWICKKS SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



VARIETIES OF THE HONEY-BEE. 



THE increase of bee-keeping, the spread of 

 literature treating exclusively of the subject, 

 and the attention paid by bee-keepers in Europe, 

 America, Asia, and Africa, to the improvement of 

 the honey-bee {Apis mellijica), have demonstrated 

 that there are at least ten distinct varieties of this 

 insect. 



And, though this has occurred within the last 

 fifteen years, no notice seems to have been taken of 

 the existence of these well-marked races of the 

 domesticated insect in its bearing on the theory of 

 evolution. That interesting chapter in the history 

 of that teaching has not yet been written, indeed, 

 the facts summarised below are only to be found 

 scattered over the pages of many bee-publications, 

 some of which are difficult of access. The present 

 paper is offered as a contribution towards that part of 

 the natural history of the honey-bee. 



American bee-keepers have set before them the 

 project of breeding bees by a judicious selection of 

 queens and drones, with what they consider these six 

 indispensable qualifications in bees kept for profit : 

 I, Hardy; able to bear bad winters without too 

 great dwindling. 2, Good breeders ; the queens 

 laying in abundance, early in spring and late in 

 autumn. 3, Gentle and quiet ; not attacking 

 mankind without provocation, and allowing them- 

 selves to be examined on a bar-frame comb when 

 lifted from the hive. 4, Good honey-gatherers ; 

 working on the flowers from sunrise till sunset. 5, 

 Strong and active ; flying long distances to pasturage, 

 and vigorously defending their stores. 6, Long- 

 tongued ; being able to get honey from many 

 flowers which defy most bees. 



And, so far, intelligent bee-masters have been 

 partially successful ; indeed, there is every reason to 

 expect that the honey-bee of the future will be as 

 different from, and as much more valuable than, 

 "the little busy bee" of the past, as an English 

 Shorthorn excels an Irish brindled cow. 



I shall now shortly mention the distinguishing 

 feature of each of the races of bees that are known 

 to the bee-keeping community. 



1. Black or Brown. — The ordinary hive or 

 honey-bee, called by way of distinction the black or 

 brown, from being of almost one uniform blackish- 

 brown colour, with slight indications of paler bands 

 on the abdomen, and clothed with greyish-brown 

 hairs. Till within the last twenty years, no other 

 bee was known in north or west Europe. This is 

 also the bee which has returned to a wild condition 

 in the woods of America and New Zealand. 



2. Italian Alp. — The Italian Alp, sometimes 

 called Ligurian, is a native of the mountainous 

 district in the north of Italy and south of Switzer- 

 land, round about the Lakes Maggiore and Como. 

 It is of a light orange-yellow colour, with two deeper 



hued bands on the abdomen, and is longer and more 

 slender than the black. It is a better honey-gatherer, 

 more hardy and prolific, and very courageous in 

 defending its hives, even from the ravages of the 

 wax moth. 



3. Cyprian. — The Cyprian is indigenous to 

 Cyprus and part of Turkey in Asia. It is yellow, 

 quite slender, wasp-like, and smaller than the 

 Italian. It always has a yellow shield-mark on the 

 back between the wings. It is strong, an excellent 

 honey-gatherer, winters better than any other race, 

 and is proof against being robbed by other bees ; 

 but it is easily excited and a most revengeful stinger. 



4. Syrian. — The Syrian is found in that part 

 of Asiatic Turkey which lies north of Mount Carmel. 

 It is of the same size, qualities, and temper as the 

 Cyprian, from which it differs in showing less yellow, 

 and being on the whole of a greyer colour over the 

 entire body. It is quite distinct from the next. 



5. Holy Land. — The Holy Land, or, as the 

 natives call it, the holy bee, is found in Palestine 

 south of Mount Carmel. It is marked like the 

 Cyprian and Syrian, but the hair is so, light it 

 appears to be beautifully banded. Its size is smaller 

 than the Italian, but longer than the Syrian. It is 

 very active and far-flying, a most wonderful builder 

 of cells, has a tongue able to get honey from red 

 clover ; but is ready to sting, becomes furious at the 

 least smoke, and runs off the comb when one is 

 lifted from the hive. 



6. Tunisian. — The bee of Tunis, in the north 

 of Africa, is a peculiar one. It is of the same size 

 as the Cyprian, but the colour is very dark brown, 

 darker than the common black. It is an active 

 worker, keeps on its combs while being handled, 

 and bears smoke better than Eastern races ; but it is 

 liable to attack a person coming near its hive, even 

 though it is notinterfered with. 



7. Carniolan. — The Carniolan is a native of 

 Carniola, in Illyria, South Austria. It is longer and 

 thicker than the black, being the largest domesticated 

 European bee. The colour is a rich dark brown, 

 nearly black ; while each ring of the abdomen is 

 clearly marked by whitish-grey hairs that give it a 

 silvery look. It is equal to the Italian in honey- 

 getting, fecundity, and hardiness ; while it is of a 

 remarkably gentle disposition, never attacking the 

 manipulator except it should be treated with im- 

 proper roughness. 



8. Hungarian. — The bee peculiar to Hungary 

 is of the same size as, but far blacker than, 

 the Black. It is a very fair honey-gatherer, and as 

 gentle as the Italian, but it has such a propensity for 

 swarming that it is unprofitable, except the proprietor 

 should care for many stocks and little honey. 



9. Egyptian. — The Egyptian is in size like the 

 Cyprian, but quite yellow like the Italian. It is 

 common, both wild and in hives, along the valley of 

 the Nile, and is famed for its good honey-gathering 



