.56 Vic Italian Eace. 



in 1848, ■svliicli was read hj Dzicrzon, who became interested, 

 and through hhu the Italian liecauie generally introduced into 

 Germany. In 1859, six years after Dzierzon's first importa- 

 tion, the Italian variety ■was introduced into England by 

 Neighliour, the author of the valuable treatise already referred 

 to. The same year, Messrs. Wagner and Colviu imported the 

 Italians from Dzierzon's apiary into America; and in 1860, 

 Mr. S. P. Parsons brought the first colonies that were imported 

 direct from Italy. 



The Italian worker is quickly distinguished by the bright- 

 yeUow rings at the base of the abdomen. If the colony is 



Fig. 6. 



Abdomen of Ikdlan Worhcr. 



pure, every bee will show three of these golden girdles (Fig. 6, 

 A, B, C). The two first segments or rings of the abdomen, 

 except at their posterior border, and also tlie base or anterior 

 liorder of the third, m ill be of this orange-yellow hue. The rest 

 of the Isack or dorsal surface will be much as in the German 

 race. Underneath, tlie abdomen, except for a greater or less 

 distance at the tip, will also be yellow, while the same color 

 appears more or less strongly marked on the legs. The workers 

 have longer ligulre or tongues (Fig. 22, t) than the German 

 lace, and their tongues are also a little more hairy. They are 

 also more active, and less inclined to sting. The queen has the 

 entire base of her abdomen, and sometimes nearly the whole 

 of it, orange-yellow. The variation as to amount of color in 



