30 Biilleliiì (le la Sncìclv Knlomohì(jì<}UC d'Egijpte 



(Iroiïcs, pvcii when raised in woiker cells. In such cases 

 the cells are loo small lor the larvae and pupae, and 

 when covered in are recognisable as containing drone 

 brood by the convexity ol' their capping. 



In spite otlieing smaller insects than European bees, 

 the l\gyi)tian bees make cells ol the same size as Euro- 

 pean bees. They can consequently utilise arlilicial 

 foundation made for Eurojiean bees. 



The Egyptian bee does not gather propolis, and has 

 not the unpleasant habit some other l)reeds have of 

 sticking all parts of their hives together with this [)ro- 

 duct. 



The time required for development by Egyptian 

 bees appears to be the same as in the case of other species. 



Egyptian bees hybridise very readily with imported 

 species, and the offspring of Ijaslards or of cross-fertili- 

 sed (jueens usually resem])les l^]gyptian bees, more espe 

 cially in the workers, but to a less degree in the case of 

 queens and drones. 



It has long been considered that drones are always 

 ])roduced from unfertilised eggs. In this case the drones 

 ought to resemble the race to which (he mother belongs. 

 However in the case of some Calilornian (ìold l)ees which 

 weie without doubt pure bred, daughter (|ueens, crossed 

 with Egyptian or (^priole drones, have never raised 

 thorough bred Calilornian Gold bee drones. On the con- 

 trary, their drones vary considerably in markings and 

 colouration, but always resemble Egyptian drones more 

 than Californian drones. 



The Egyptian bee does not collect much honey, 

 about 10 — 20 kg. per hive being (pule a good return at 

 Maadi. It has a further disadvantage when compared 



