1886.] and tha Introdnction of the Italian Bee. 91 



nal, whereas the drone-cells, being so large comparatively, are cylindrical 

 and have thick walls. In this fact we have a confirmation of the theory 

 that the hexagonal form of the bee's cell is dae, not to design on the 

 part of the bee, but to the crowding together of cells which would, if 

 constructed separately, be cylindrical. 



The origin of the European species has been repeatedly discussed. 

 Dr. Grerstacker has discussed the opinions of a number of authorities in his 

 paper referred to above, the principal question being whether the hive-bee 

 is indigenous to Germany and Northern Europe, or whether it was intro- 

 duced from a warmer climate. The arguments adduced in favour of its 

 being indigenous to Northern Europe are the great difference between the 

 yellow striped bees of Southern and South- Eastern Europe, Northern 

 Africa, and Asia Minor and the dark- coloured bees of Northern Europe ; 

 the constancy of the yellow-striped Italian and the dark-coloured northern 

 varieties when they are kept separate, even though the striped variety be 

 introduced into Germany ; and that the races were in contact in the region 

 of the Alps before the introduction of the Italian bee into Germany. It 

 may be noted that these varieties breed freely together, and that the Italian 

 bee was only introduced into Germany in 1853. I find that the Hazara 

 variety, from the Hazara district of the Punjab, has the light scutellum, 

 is somewhat smaller than A. ligustica, has the yellow bands ending at the 

 sides, and light hair, that it corresponds, in fact, to the Egyptian bee ; and 

 that the Bushahr bee has the dark scutellum, is somewhat larger, and dark- 

 coloured like the Northern European variety. Apis indica of Lower Bengal 

 is a yellow-striped bee ; the Bhootan bee is very dark indeed and also 

 larger ; Ajpis dorsata appears also to vary in the same way, the varieties 

 found in Lower Bengal and Jubbulpore being lighter in colour and smaller 

 than that found in Sikkim : the variation in size and colour thus f ollowino^ 

 the same law in India as in Europe and Northern Africa. The arguments 

 advanced by Dr. Gerstacker in favour of the Northern European bee being 

 descended from progenitors introduced from the south are, the proved 

 possibility of its introduction from the south and acclimatization, and the 

 absence of wild bees in Northern Europe, whereas they are common in tlie 

 south. Dr. Gerstacker objects that the hive-bee introduced into America 

 has not confined itself to the southern parts as it would have done if it 

 had been of southern origin, but that the northern and central states 

 have appeared most favourable to it ; and that hive-bees do occasionallv 

 run wild, and were once wild, in Germany, but that the changes due 

 to extended cultivation of the land and the more complete domestication 

 of the insects render this very unfrequent. It may be replied that in India 

 in the plains wild bees abound not only in the forests but in the large towns 

 and that Cuba and warm countries generally are favourable to bee life but 



