Cijpnaii and Sp-'utn Been. 37 



quite striking. Sometimes very (Lirlc queens are imported 

 right from tlie Ligiiriaii liills, yet all tlio workers will wear the 

 badge of purity — the three golden liands. 



The drones are quite variahle. Sometimes the rings and 

 patches of yellow will bo very prominent, then, again, quite 

 indistinct. But the under side of the body is always, so far 

 as I have observed, mainly yellow. 



A variety of our Italian bees which has the rows of white 

 hairs (.Fig. ti, J. K, L, M) unusually distinct is being sold in 

 the United Stivtes under the name of Albinos. They are not 

 a distinct race. In fact, I have often noticed among Italians 

 the so-called Albinos. 



THE SYRIAN AND CYPEIAN KACES. 



Through the enterprise of IMessrs. D. A. Jones and Frank 

 Benton, -we now ha^'e these races in our country, and have 

 proved the truth of the assertion of noted European apiarists, 

 that the Cyprian is a distinct race of bees. 



]Mr. Benton, than whom no one is better fitted to express a 

 correct opinion, thinks that the Cyprian bees are the offspring 

 of the Syrian. This opinion is strengthened by the close 

 resemblance of the three races, and by the fact that migrations 

 of all kinds have gone westward. A similar argument would 

 make it presumable that the Cyprians gave rise to the Italians. 



The Cyprian bees resemble the Italians very closely. They 

 may be distinguished by the bright leather-colored lunule which 

 tips their thorax posteriorly, and by the flict that the under 

 side of their bodies is j^ellow to the tip. They are more active 

 than are the Italians, and the queens are more prolific. 



The good cjualities of the Italians seem all to be exaggerated 

 in the Cyprians, except the trait of amialiility. The Cyprian 

 bees are second only to the Egyptian in irritability. That 

 they will become less cross with handling is to be expected. 



The SjTian bees are a very well marked race. The Syrian 

 queens are remarkably uniform. Their abdomens above are, 

 like the little A. Indica, beautifully banded with yellow and 

 black. They are very quick and remarkably prolific. They 

 do not cease laying even when the honey flow ceases. The 

 workers closely resemble those of the Italian race, only that 

 they are more yellow beneath, and when first from the cells, or 

 newly hatched, they are very dark, owing to the fact that the 



