292 RACES OP BEES. 



548. Bees, like all other insects, are divided scientifically 

 into genera, species, and varieties. 



Aristotle speaks of three different varieties of the honey- 

 bee, as well known in his time. The best variety he describes 

 as small, and round in size and shape, and variegated in 

 color. 



Virgil (Georgica, lib. IV., 98) speaks of two kinds as flour- 

 ishing in his time ; the better of the two he thus describes : 



"Elucent aliffi, et fulgore ooruscant, 

 Ardentes auro, et paribus lita corpora guttis. 

 Hsec potior soboles; hinc coeli tempore certo 

 Dulcia mella premes. ' ' 



"The others glitter, and their variegated bodies shine like 

 drops of sprinkling gold. This better breed! Thanks to them, 

 if the weather of the sky is certain, you will have honey 

 combs to press." 



This better variety, it will be seen, he characterizes as 

 spotted or variegated, and of a beautiful golden color. 



549. The first bee introduced into America, was the com- 

 mon bee of Europe, Western Asia, and Western Africa, Api? 

 mellifica, now called Apis mellifera, by many. "Mellificj 

 means "honey maker," while "Mellifera" means "honey bear- 

 er." It is usually designated under the name of black, or gray 

 bee. Both names are appropriate, since the race varies in 

 shade, according to localities. In the greater part of Africa, 

 as well as in the European provinces of Turkey, the common 

 bees are dark, nearly black. In other places, their color is 

 grayish. They vary in size, as well. According to some 

 French writers, the bees of Holland are small, and denomi- 

 nated "la petite Hollandaise" (the little Hollander) ; on the 

 other hand, the Carniolan* bees are quite large. We have 

 never seen queens as large as some Carniolans which we im- 

 ported some thirty years ago. But, in spite of the prolificness 



* Carniola is a province of Austria, near the Adriatic, but on ilia 

 East slope of the mountains. 



