§ VI.] OTHER FOREIGN VARIETIES. 49 



though resembling the Italian {Apis li'^tistka), the Cyprian 

 were clearly of a different species, but more nearly* 

 approaching the Egyptian {A. fasciatd) : they certainly 

 possessed the irascible qualities so distinctive of the 

 Egyptians, and used their stilettoes unmercifully on some 

 of the gentlemen connected with the show. We have 

 not been sufficiently enamoured of them to pursue their 

 cultivation further. The resemblance is so close to those 

 bees already domiciled here that we see no special advan- 

 tage to be gained by doing so. 



7. Asiatic Bees. — This bee {Apis dorsatd) is a dis- 

 tinct species ; it is larger than our own, and exists in a 

 wild state in the woods of, India. Mr. Woodbury made 

 considerable exertions to have a colony brought to 

 England, but without success. The stings of these bees, 

 are more formidable than those of the varieties possessed 

 here, and except as a matter of curiosity we can see 

 nothing to recommend their introduction. 



8. Egyptian Bees. — These bees, though called Apis 

 fasciata, are considered by many as a variety of the same 

 species as ordinary bees. They are rather smaller and 

 slenderer than our own and the Italian, though closely 

 resembling the latter in appearance. They have white 

 hairs all about them, and the first two and a half rings 

 of the abdomen are of a reddish yellow. The drones 

 are also well marked with similar rings, and the queen 

 is even more beautiful than the Italian. Baron von 

 Berlepsch recommends crossing the handsomest Italian 



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