THE ITALIAN BEE. 2838 
the part of Italy called Liguria. ‘The Rev. E. W. Gilman, 
of Bangor, Maine, directed the writer’s attention to Spinola’s 
‘*Insectorum Liguric species nove aut rariores,’’ from 
which it appears, that Spinola accurately described all the 
peculiarities of this bee, which he found in Piedmont, in 
1805. He fully identified it with the bee described by Aris- 
totle. 
2d. The apis fasciata (banded bee). This bee, related 
to the Italian, or Ligurian, which has yellow bands also, is 
found in Egypt, in Arabia, along both sides of the Red 
Sea, in Syria, in Cyprus and in Caucasus. 
3d. We shall mention also the large Apis dorsata of South- 
ern Asia, and the melipones of Brazil and Mexico. 
551. The Italian bee, Apis Ligustica, spoken of by Aris- 
totle and Virgil as the best kind, still exists distinct and 
pure from the common kind, after the lapse of more than 
two thousand years. 
The great superiority of this race, over any other race 
known, is now universally acknowledged ; for it has-victor- 
iously stood the test of practical bee-keepers, side by side 
with the common bee. The ultimate superseding of the 
common bee by the Italian in this country is but a matter 
of time. 
552. The following facts are evident: 
ist. The Italian bees are less sensitive to cold than the 
common kind. 2d. Their queens are more prolific. 
dd. They defend their hives better against insects. Moths 
($02) are hardly ever found in their combs, while they are 
occasionally found in the combs of even the strongest colo- 
nies of common bees. Their great vigilance is due to the 
mildness of the climate of Italy, whose Winters never 
destroy the moth. Having to defend themselves against a 
more numerous enemy, they are more watchful than the bees 
of colder regions. 4th. They are less apt to sting. Not 
only are they less apt, but scarcely are they inclined to sting, 
