; THE LIG URIAN BEE. 205 



cipations indulged in by M. Hermann respecting- them, 

 it would be sufficient to identify the Italian Alp bee as the 

 species described by Hood in " Miss Kilmanseg-g-";— 

 those which dwelt in 



" A golden hive, on a golden bank, 

 Where golden bees, by alchemical prank, 

 Gather gold instead of honey." 



If we are correctly informed, poor Hermann himself 

 has not yet greatly profited by the discovery of the mine. 

 He appears to have quitted Switzerland, and travelled 

 to America, as, by the latest accounts, we learn that he 

 is now in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, prosecut- 

 ing- his favourite calling with his accustomed ardour, 

 among the apiaries of amateur bee-keepers. We are 

 glad that M. Hermann is thus engaged, for report had 

 reached us that he was dead-^a report to which we gave 

 currency in our first edition. 



In the pamphlet referred to, M, Hermann gives the 

 following description of what he insists on designating as 

 Apis Helvetica: — "The yellow Italian Alp bee is a 

 mountain insect; it is found between two mountain 

 chains to the right and left of Lombardy and the Rhe^ 

 tian Alps, and comprises the whole territory of Tessins, 

 Veltlin, and South-Graubunden. It thrives up to the 

 height of 4,500 feet above the level of the sea, and ap- 

 pears to prefer the northern clime to the warmer, for in 

 the south of Italy it is not found.- ITie Alps are their 



