46 THB bbb-kbbper's guide ; 



genus. It is certain that the Italian bee,-the Egyptian bee, 

 the Cyprian bee, and the bees of Syria, of -which Mr. Benton 

 states that there are at least two distinct races, are only races 

 of the Apis mellifera, which also includes the Tunisian or 

 Punic bees, theCarniolan, and the German or black bee. 



Mr. F. Smith, an able entomologist of England, considers 

 Apis dorsata of India and the East Indies, Apis zonata of the 

 Philippine Islands, Apis indica of India and China, and Apis 



Fig. 3. 



Head of Drone, magnified. — Original. 

 Antennae, C&mpound Eyes, Simple Eyes. 



florea of India, Ceylon, China, and Borneo, as distinct species. 

 He thinks, also, that Apis adonsoni and Apis nigrocincta are 

 distinct, but states that they may be varieties of Apis indica. 

 Others think them races of dorsata. Some regard Apis uni- 

 color as a distinct species, but it is probably a variety of Apis 

 mellifera. As Apis mellifera has not been found in India, and 

 is a native of Europe, Western Asia, and Africa, it seems 

 quite possible, though not probable, that several of the above 

 may turn out to be only varieties of Apis mellifera. If there 

 are only color and size to distinguish them, and, indeed, one 

 may add habits, then we may suspect, with good reason, the 

 validity of the above arrangement. If there be structural 

 difference, as Mr. Wallace says there is, in the male dorsata, 

 then we may call them different species. The Italian certainly 

 has a longer tongue than the German, yet that is not su£6<;ient 



