29S RACKS OF BEES. 



landed on this continent were imported in the Fall of 1859 

 by Mr. AVagner and Mr. Richard Colvin, of Baltimore, from 

 Dzierzon's apiary. Mr. P. G. Mahan, of Philadelphia, 

 brought over at the same time a few colonies. In the Spring 

 of 1860, Mr. S. B. Parsons, of Flushmg, L. I., imported a 

 number of colonies from Italy. Mr. William G. Rose, of 

 New York, in 1861, im])orted also from Italy. Mr. Colvin 

 made a number of importations from Dzierzon's apiaiy; and 

 in the Fail of 1863 and 1864 Mr. Langstroth also imported 

 queens from the same apiary, but the first large successful 

 importations were made by Adam Grimm of Wisconsin, in 

 1867, from the apiaiy of Prof. Mona of Bellinzona, and by 

 us in 1874, from the apiarj- of Signor Guiseppe Fiorini of 

 Monselice, Italy. Smce then, Mr. A. I. Root, and others, 

 have succeeeded well nearly evei-y season. 



This valuable variety of the honey-bee is now extensively 

 disseminated in North Amerijea. 



559. The Egyptian bees (Apis fasciata) are smaller and 

 brighter than the Italian bee. The hairs of their body are 

 more whitish, and their motions are quick and fly-like. Their 

 prolificness is great, but their ill-disposition has caused many 

 who have tried them to abandon them. 



The Cj'prian bees (a sub-race of Apis fasciata) were im- 

 ported from Cyprus to Europe in 1872, and they were so 

 much praised that, in 1880, two enterprising American Apia- 

 rists, Messrs. D. A. Jones and Frank Benton made a trip to 

 Cyprus and the Holy Land, and brought bees from both coun- 

 tries to America. 



The Cj'prian bees resemble the Italian bees. The main 

 difference between them, m appearance, is a bright yellow 

 shield on the thorax of the Cj^prians not to be seen in the 

 Italians, and the j^ellow rings of the former are brighter, 

 of a copper color, especially under the abdomen. Their 

 drones are beautiful. 



Their behavior is like that of the Egj'ptians; quick and 

 ready, they promptly assail those who dare handle them. 



