154 Harold J. Hockings' notes on two 



various operations, during which great excitement pre- 

 vails, form an exceedingly interesting sight. 



The pollen of this variety is drier or more firm than 

 with " Karhi." As much as fifty pounds of honey 

 may sometimes be obtained from a nest of these bees, 

 which is an amazing quantity considering the size of 

 the insect. 



A great many bees of both varieties are white when 

 hatched, gradually becoming darker, until in about a 

 week they are as black as the others. 



The brood-cells of "Karbi" are filled and sealed in 

 the same way as the " Kootchar," but the tops and 

 bottoms are merely oval, the sides being the same shape 

 as in Apis mellifica ; the mouths are always pointed up- 

 wards, except with queen-cells, which usually lie hori- 

 zontally with the mouth outwards. 



The queens are quite incapable of flight when the 

 ovaries are developed, and even appear to walk with 

 difficulty. At night the entrance of the hive is closed 

 by numerous minute globules of semi-fluid gum placed 

 against it, thus forming a thin wall full of air-holes ; 

 the hive is closed in a similar way during wet weather 

 and winter. 



Both varieties have a zigzag darting flight ; they 

 throw off swarms in the same way as other bees, except 

 that I believe a young queen goes off with the swarm, 

 the mother staying in the parent hive. A marked 

 feature in them is that they do not hang together while 

 building, as Apis mellifica do ; each insect acts in- 

 dependently. There seems to be no cohesion among 

 them, and, when thoroughly disturbed, they remain 

 disorganised until nightfall, when they assemble in a 

 hollow branch, and stand side by side ; under no circum- 

 stances do they hang in clusters. 



Both varieties are common with us in a wild state. 

 " Kootchar " are only to be found where a sandy soil is 

 prevalent ; they are plentiful on the coast, but especially 

 on Stradbroke Island, which seems to be their habitat, 

 and the inland natives are also of opinion that they 

 come from the coast. " Karbi " are very scarce near 

 the coast, but abundant inland. The name above given 

 is applied to them by the inland natives ; the coast 

 tribes call them " Keelar," and say they belong to the 

 bush (interior). 



The wings of both varieties project slightly over the 



