DOMESTIC ECONOMY OF THE HIVE 13 



is of a milder disposition tlian the common brown bee. 

 It is very energetic, and is said to be able to gather 

 honey from flowers, the nectaries of which the common 

 brown bee cannot reach. 



This variety is a great favourite with American bee- 

 keepers. 



The Cyprian Bee is somewhat smaller than the Italian, 

 and is a native of the island of Cyprus. It has an 

 unenviable reputation as being exceedingly vicious. On 

 the other hand, it is claimed that this unfortunate trait 

 is entirely absent in pure-bred Cyprians ; the bees 

 hitherto looked upon as Cyprians being really a cross 

 between Cyprian and Syrian bees. 



In colour it much resembles the Ligurian bee, but 

 is brighter. 



The Carniolan Bee, from Carniola in Austria, is remark- 

 ably good-tempered, and has been aptly named the 

 "ladies'" bee. In appearance it somewhat resembles 

 our own native brown bee, but the abdominal rings are 

 lighter in colour. The comb honey is beautifully 

 white, and in appearance is unsurpassed. The great 

 fault with Carniolans is their tendency to excessive 

 swarming. 



Hybrids. — These are cross-bred bees, the parents being 

 of different races. A strain of bees is undoubtedly im- 

 proved by the introduction of fresh blood, but the great 

 danger of indiscriminate cross-breeding lies in the fact 

 that the resultant race is likely to prove anything but 

 amiable. 



In the hands of a skilled breeder, hybrids may be 

 raised just as gentle in disposition as any race of pure- 

 bred bees (see Queen Rearing). 



For all round excellence, however, it will be found 

 hard to beat the common English brown or black bee, 

 and the beginner in bee-keeping is advised to make his 

 initial essay with this variety. 



