13 



" Entomology of Bees," in 1852, has not checked this piracy 

 and pillage by the great impostors of the day, either in 

 America or England ; but I have not time beyond remark- 

 ing that when that accomplished and amusing naturalist, 

 Dr. Buckland commenced his lectures on the acclimatization 

 of all useful birds, beasts, and fishes, I heard him introduce 

 the subject of the Ligurian bee. Professor Owen was in 

 the chair, and 31. Tugmuor was brought forward to 

 speak on the subject, but it has escaped my memory 

 when this took place, and I fancy I introduced my hive to 

 the notice of the Apiarian Society, which had a very short 

 lived existence under M. Tugmour's supervision, when I 

 used to attend as a member of the Entomological Society 

 of London ; thus much I can vouch for, that in July, 

 1859, Mr. G. Neighbour, of Eegent-street, was the 

 original introducer of the Ligurian or Alp bee, through a 

 German named Herman, and he first sent me three queens, 

 and they were introduced to Mr. Woodbury also through 

 him, in the sheets of the " Cottage Gardener," in 1859, 

 and Mr. Woodbui-y now supplies, I believe, the Ligurian 

 bees and bee-hives at £5 and £6 each stock ; whilst the 

 original introducer, Mr. Neighbour has to deplore the 

 ^reat loss of some sixty stocks of bees. Mr. Pettitt, how- 

 ever, not dealing in such costly bee-hives, has been able 

 to secure Ligurian queens, and they may be seen here in 

 Dover. 



I must also point to the Rev. J. Scott, of Shepherdswell, 

 who is sitting at my side, as one who was able to import 

 himself a Ligurian Queen bee from Italy. He will, how- 

 ever, explain to you what has been the history and fate of 

 these Ligurian Stocks, as I have been absent these last few 

 years abroad, ^nsiting the country itself, and the people 

 where these bees come from, and if history be correct, and 

 these bees partake of the character of the inhabitants, as 

 reported by the older historians, " that the Ligurians were 

 a race of robbers," and were a great annoyance, as they 

 formed bands of short armed soldiers, and haras^d the 



