OR, MANUAL OF THE APIARY. SS 



striking. Sometimes very dark queens are imported right 

 from the Ivig-urian hills, yet all the workers will wear the 

 badge of purity — the three golden bands. 



The drones are quite variable. Sometimes the rings and 

 patches of yellow will be 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 is very beautiful and 

 gentle, has the rows of white hairs (Fig. 9, J, K, L, M) un- 

 usually distinct, and is being sold in the United States under 

 the name of Albinos. They are not a distinct race. In fact, 

 I have often noticed among Italians the so-called Albinos sev- 

 eral times, and have not found them superior, or even equal, I 

 think.'to the average Italian. 



THE SYRIAN AND, CYPRIAN RACBS. 



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

 Benton, we now have 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 re- 

 semblance of the two 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 fact that the 

 under side of their bodies is yellow to the tip. They are more 

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



The good qualities of the Italians seem all to be exagger- 

 ated in the Cyprians, except the trait of amiability. The 

 Cyprian bees are second only to the Egyptian in irritability. 

 That they will become less cross with handling is to be ex- 

 pected. 



The Syrian bees are from Asiatic Turkey, north of Mount 

 Carmel, and are a very well marked race. The Syrian queens 

 are remarkably uniform. Their abdomens above are, like the 



