RACES OF BEES 



queens being about 1861, and at once leaped 

 into favor, maintaining their precedence to the 

 present time. In appearance they are very 

 handsome, varying in color from a leather- 

 brown to the most lustrous gold, and, as com- 

 pared with the Blacks, are remarkable for 

 their gentleness. They rarely get nervous 

 when they are handled, and it is very easy to 

 find their queens. I have frequently opened 

 their hives after nine o'clock in the evening, 

 and have often brought a comb of bees into 

 the house and passed it around for visitors 

 to examine, and I have yet to know of an occa- 

 sion where those so examining them have been 

 stung, though they will sting if sufficiently 

 provoked. 



They are energetic workers, not easily dis- 

 couraged, and, having originally come from 

 a warm climate, they are alert for enemies 

 and seem to have no trouble in repelling the 

 bee moth. 



It has been said that the Italian bees are 

 more prone to rob than other races, but this 



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