343 Dr. A. Gerstacker on the Geographical Distribution 



26. Port Natal (Wahlberg). — 1 specimcD. 

 Exactly like specimen e. from the Cape. 



27. Mozambique (Peters). — 4 specimens. 

 Exactly like specimen e. from the Cape. 



28. Mauritius (DeyroUe). — 1 specimen. 



Similar in size to the Cape specimens ; colour entirely dark, 

 almost black upon the abdomen ; hair scanty. 



29. Pennsylvania (Zimmermann^ Sommer).' — 4 workers, 1 

 drone. 



Worker a little more slender than the northern Bee, like this 

 in colour and clothing, with only a narrow reddish-yellow 

 basal border on the second abdominal segment. 



30. Mexico (Deppe). — 4 workers, 1 drone. 

 Exactly like the northern Bee. 



31. Cuba (Riehl). — 1 worker, 1 drone. As Mexico. 



32. Porto Rico (Moritz). — 1 worker. As Mexico. 



Of the colour-varieties here described, the most convincing 

 proof of the inconstancy of the colour, and consequently of a 

 probable intermixture of different varieties, is furnished by 

 Nos. 13, 14, and 25, which at the same time prove that not the 

 least dependence can be placed upon the coloration of the scu- 

 tellum. The variability of the coloration under the different 

 numbers gives transitions from one form to another ; and thus it 

 becomes impossible to define clearly limited varieties. Latreille 

 and Lepelletier made 8 species out of the Honey-Bee; with 

 equal justice we might now, from the existing materials, make 

 20-30. But by referring those specimens which evidently form 

 transitions from one principal race to another to the race with 

 which they have most in common, we may get six principal 

 varieties, with the following geographical distribution : — 



1. The unicolorous, dark northern Bee (including the most 



nearly allied lighter varieties) occurs in Northern Europe, 

 where until very lately it was the only form ; in the south 

 of France, Portugal, the south of Spain, and Algiers ; like- 

 wise in some districts of Italy, in Dalmatia, Greece, the 

 Crimea, and on the islands and coast of Asia Minor; 

 lastly, in Guinea, at the Cape of Good Hope (probably in- 

 troduced), and in a great part of North America (certainly 

 introduced) . 



2. The Italian Bee (with a black scutellum) occurs almost ex- 



clusively in different districts of Italy, especially in the 

 northern parts, including the Tyrol and the Valteline. 

 Introduced lately into Northern Europe. 



3. A variety differing from the Italian Bee in its yellow scutel- 



lum occurs in the south of France, in Sicily, Dalmatia, 



