DIFFEHENT RACES OF BEES. 31 



queens, they are inveterate swarmers when kept in small hives, 

 and exposed to the sun in hot summers. This, however, is 

 an objection which will not weigh with those who desire rapid 

 increase, and who arc capable of exercising due control over the 

 swarming propensity. (216). 



49. Cyprians have been introduced into this country from 

 Cyprus. Their bodies are smaller and more pointed than those 

 of Black bees, and the three yellow bands are continued under 

 the abdomen, as they are not in the Ligurian race. They are 

 extremely iirolific, and diligent workers ; but their comb is 

 too inferior to justify their use for the production of section 

 honey. Laying workers (200) are more frequent among them 

 than among Blacks. Their lavish use of propolis adds much 

 to the difficulties of managing them ; and they are so vindictive 

 that they have been adopted only in very exceptional cases in 

 this country. 



50. Syrians differ little in appearance from the former. For 

 queen-rearing purposes they are valuable, because a queenless 

 colony of Syrians will build a large number of queen cells — 

 sometimes as many as thirty on one frame (196). It follows 

 that if eggs or unsealed larva of any race be given to a queen- 

 less colony of Syrians, the production of queens may be 

 enormously increased. They are wicked, most difficult to 

 handle, and are often quite unmanageable. 



51. Giant Bees [Apis fhrsata) are found in India, Ceylon, 

 China and Eastwards to Java. They build single combs, five 

 or six feet long by three or four feet deep, in high trees or 

 rocks, remaining only two or three weeks in one i^lace, and 

 travelling sometimes loo miles to make a new home. They 

 are exceedingly wicked, often inflicting fatal injuries upon man 

 and beast, and offering little encouragement to any attempts 

 at domesticating them. 



52. Common East Indian Bees {Aph Indica) are common 

 in India and from Madagascar to the Malayan Archipelago. 

 They are small, yellow underneath the abdomen, and not diffi- 

 cult to manage. Their production of honey, under the methods 

 by which, to a limited extent, they are worked in their native 

 country, does not often exceed fifteen or twenty pounds. 



53. Dwarf East Indian Bees {Aph florea) are the smallest 

 honey bees known. They are black, with the anterior part of 

 the abdomen a bright orange. Their combs seldom exceed 

 eight inches in length by four inches in dejith, and the cells 

 are so diminutive that loo are contained in a superficial square 

 inch of comb. Their production of honey is too small to render 

 their cultivation profitable. 



