314 



IITVE-BEES. 



Chap. YIIl 



been transported into almost every quarter of the world, so 

 tliat climate ought to have produced whatever direct effect 

 it is capable of producing. It is frequently asserted that 

 the bees in different parts of Great Britain differ in size, 

 colour, and temper ; and Godron^* says that they are 

 generally larger in the south than in other parts of France ; 

 it has also been asserted that the little brown bees of High 

 Burgundy, when transported to La Bresse become large 

 and yellow in the second generation. But these statements 

 require confirmation. As far as size is concerned, it is known 

 that bees produced in very old combs are smaller, owing to 

 the cells having become smaller from the successive old 

 cocoons. The best authorities^^ concur that, with the 

 exception of the Liguiian lace or species, presently to be 

 mentioned, distinct breeds do not exist in Britain or on the 

 Continent. There is, however, even in the same stock, some 

 variability in colour. Thus, Mr. Woodbur}^ states,''*' that he 

 has several times seen queen bees of the common kind annu- 

 lated with yellow-like Liguriau queens, and the latter dark- 

 coloured like common bees. He has also observed variations 

 in the colour of the drones, without any corresponding differ- 

 ence in the queens or workers of the same hive. The great 

 apiarian, Dzierzon, in answer to my queries on this subject, 

 jsays,^^ that in Germany bees of some stocks are decidedly 

 dark, whilst others are remarkable for their yellow colour. 

 Bees also seem to differ in habits in different districts, for 

 Dzierzon adds, " If many stocks with their offspring are more 

 inclined to swarm, whilst others are richer in honey, so that 

 some bee-keepers even distinguish between swarming and 

 honey-gathering bees, this is a habit which has become second 

 nature, caused by the customary mode of keeping the bees 



'« 'De I'Esp&ce,' 1859, p. 459. 

 With respect to the bees of Burgundy, 

 a^e M. Gerard, art. ' Espfece,' iu • Diet. 

 Univers. d'Hist. Nat.' 



''' See a discussion on this subject, 

 in answer to a question of mine, in 

 ' Journal of Horticulture,' 1862, pp. 

 2'25-242; also Mr. Bevan Fox, in 

 ditto, )862, p. 284 



*' This excellent observer may be 



implicitly trusted; see 'Journal of 

 Horticulture,' July 14th, 18t)3. p. 39. 

 ^' • Journal of Horticulture,' Sept. 

 9th, 1862, p. 463; see also Herr 

 Kleine on same subject (Xov. 11th, p. 

 643), who sums up, that, though 

 there is some variability in colour, no 

 constant or perceptible ditl'erences can 

 be detected in the bees of Germanv. 



