Social Insects. 



15 



domesticated animals. Some ten different types of the species 

 have been characterized by specific names, two of them viz., 

 adansoni Latr. and unicolor Latr. being considered good species 

 by Fredk. Smith, while a still greater number are recognized by 

 local names among apiculturists. These varieties and races show 

 every variation in color through the various shades of black, gray 

 and golden-yellow, as also every variation in disposition, in 

 dustry, and tendency to swarm, and especially in honey-gather 

 ing proclivities. (See Note 1.) 



Of the East Indian species only one, Apis indica, is cultivated. 

 This bee, which is considerably smaller than our own, building 

 smaller combs composed of smaller cells 36 to the square inch 

 chooses when wild, a hollow tree or rocky cavity for its home. 

 It is kept to a limited extent by the natives, earthen jars being 

 used for hives, but the yield of honey is small. 



FIG. 2. MODIFICATIONS OF THE HIND LEGS OF DIFFERENT BEES : a, Anthophora ; 

 b, Melissodes ; c, Perdita ; d, Nomada ; <?, Agapostemon ; f, Nomia all enlarged. 

 (Original.) 



Apis florca, the smallest of the genus, with slender, orange- 

 banded body, builds in the more open country of India, attach 

 ing a single tiny comb to the twig of some small shrub. The 

 worker cells are 81 to the square inch of surface, the drone 

 cells 36. 



Apis dorsata. the Giant Bee of India, attaches its mammoth 

 combs to the limbs of tall forest trees or to overhanging ledges 



