MANUAL OP THE APIARY 43 



quite indistinct. But the under side of the body is always, 

 so far as I have observed, mainly yellow. 



THE FASCIATA OR EGYPTIAN RACE. 



The word fasciata means banded, as the Egyptian bee is 

 very broadly banded with yellow. I have never seen these 

 bees, but from descriptions by Latrielle, Kirby, and Bevan, I 

 understand that all the bees are rather smaller, more slim, 

 and much more yellow than the Italians. Herr Vogel states 

 that they gather no propolis, but that each colony contains a 

 number of small drone-laying queens. These bees were 

 probably the ones which, with the kine of the ancient goodly 

 land of promise, gave the rich pabulum, that gave the repu- 

 tation : " flowing with milk and honey." They are thus the 

 oldest of domesticated bees. These, too, are said to have 

 been moved in rude boats or rafts up and down the Nile, as 

 the flower pasturage seemed to require. The bees are said 

 to be very active, to be proof against the cold, and have also 

 been reputed very cross. 



OTHER VARIETIES. 



There are several otlier doubtful varieties which are receiv- 

 ing some attention from the German apiarists, and are honored 

 with attention at the great meetings of Austria and Germany, 

 as we learn from the bee publications of those countries. The 

 Cyprian bee, from the Isle of Cyprus, as its name indicates, 

 is yellow, and probably an offspring from the Italian or Egyp- 

 tian. It doubtless has substantial merits, and very likely is 

 superior to the Italian, than which it is more beautiful, 

 'though possibly less amiable. Other varieties, which are not 

 probably distinct races, or at least may not be, are the Heath, 

 the Camiolan or Krainer, and the Herzegovinian. They are 

 not considered superior to the German and Italian. 



A variety of our Italian, which has rows of white hairs 

 unusually distinct, is being sold in the United States under 

 the name of Albinos. That they are a distinct race is not at 

 all likely. In fact, I have noticed among our Italian stocks 

 every year, the eo-called Albinos. 



