CHAPTER XXVII. 



STINGLESS HONEY BEE. 



A VARIETY of the honey bee without stings (to 

 which fact their name is owing) has long been 

 known to exist in South America. They also exist 

 in Central America and Mexico. 



Dr. Bevan, in his " Honey Bee," says : " It was 

 proposed a few years ago to import the stingless bees 

 into this country " (England). " If such bees there 

 be, I very much doubt its ever being attended with 

 success, as the fruits of their labor must very soon 

 become a prey to wasps and bees of the country." 



The subject of introducing this variety of bees to 

 the United States has also been proposed and dis- 

 cussed, by many of the public journals, within the 

 last few years, but thus far without any practical 

 results. 



The following extract from Bevan's work is pos- 

 sessed of much interest in this connection : 



" The stingless bees are said to be inhabitants of 

 Guadaloupe, Guinea, etc. ; but their existence re- 

 quires confirmation, for an indisposition to wound 

 affords no evidence of inability to do so. Queens 



