104 



others perhaps to be regarded only as siibvarieties or even to be looked 

 upon as mere artificial breeds — have been obtained and tested, there 

 still remain great regions yet to be explored in this respect. The 

 honey bee is believed not to have been a native of the New World, so 

 that in the unexplored portions of South America no varieties nor 

 new species of the genera Apis, 'Megapis, nor Micrapis are to be 

 looked for. The interior regions of Africa may yet present some new 

 types. It is possible, although hardily probable, that Australia may 

 possess some. The field in the East Indian Islands, however, is far 

 more promising, while the great central regions of Asia have not been 

 touched. 



IMPORTATIONS OF VARIOUS BREEDS. 



The first importations of bees were doubtless made from England 

 in early colonial times, and perhaps from Holland and Spain. These 

 were the common black or brown bees so generally spread throughout 

 the P^astern States previous to the middle of the last century, but 

 which only reached the Pacific coast in the fifties. They were fol- 

 lowed by the introduction, in the early sixties, of the yellow race 

 from Italy, imjiorted by the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture. Then followed, in 1880, Cyprian. Syrian, and Palestine 

 l^ees, l)rought from their respective native lands by the writer and 

 Mr. D. A. Jones, of Canada. In 1888 the peculiar type known as 

 " Carniolan '' bees, from the province of Carniola, in southwestern 

 Austria, was introduced in large numbers by the writer. A few 

 queens of this race had reached this country some j^ears before, but 

 they were not multiplied to any extent, hence the race had gained no 

 hold here previous to my own extensive importations of 1883. 



Just as happened in the case of the Carniolans,, a small number 

 of Caucasians had reached America a decade or more before their 

 extensive introduction; l)ut, (juite in the same manner as occurred 

 Avith the earlier importations of Carniolans. the efforts attracted no 

 general attention and the cultivation of Caucasians was neglected, 

 resulting, of course, in their complete disappearance. About 1!)00, 

 however, Eauchfuss Brothers, of Colorado. Avith the assistance of Ger- 

 man shippers, made fresh importations. The writer's importations 

 direct from the Caucasus followed these, and last year the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, at my suggestion, imported still 

 more. As yet, however, the Caucasians exist in America in but lim- 

 ited numbers. 



QUALITIES or THESE TYPES. 



Common Hack or brown hees. — This familiar type possesses some 

 excellent traits, such as hardiness, willingness to enter surplus honey 

 receptacles, and activity during abundant honey flows; but, united 

 with these traits, is a greater disposition to rob during times of 



