29 
before the beginner gets very bold, and proud is he when without veil 
or gloves he approaches the hive and with the use of a little smoke 
handles his bees with impunity. It is a fact that the sting affects 
different people in different ways, but the writer believes it is also 
a fact that one can to a greater or less extent become immune to the 
poison resulting from the sting. Upon receiving the sting from the 
honey bee, immediately remove the stinger by means of a knife or a 
finger nail by pushing the stinger sideways. Never use the fingers 
or a pair of forceps.to try to extract the stinger for in doing this 
more of the poison, or formic acid, is injected and more serious will 
be the result of the sting. A little honey smeared over the affected spot 
will give relief as quickly as anything. The best recommendation, how- 
ever, is that of prevention. Secure gentle Italian bees, and do away 
with the common black ill-tempered bees. Visit the apiary often, 
learn the behavior of the bees; and the bees will come to know you 
the same as higher animals do. Work among your bees leisurely, 
avoiding all quick motions and in opening a hive ‘do it as carefully 
as you can. Use the smoker judiciously. 
At another place reference is made to the unde- 
Kind of bees sirability of the black, or German, bee and the 
three- or five-banded Italians are recommended. 
This information for the amateur should be sufficient; yet it may not 
be out of place here to say that there are many races of bees, each of 
which has its own individuality. The following table is taken from 
“Cook’s Manual of the Apiary”: 
Species Races Varieties 
A. Dorsata nigripen- 
nis Latr. 
Apis indica, Fab. A. Dorsata bicolor, 
Apis florea, Fab. 
= Klug. 
Apis dorsata, Fab. A. Doel zonata, Carniolin or Krainer 
Smith. Heath 
Hungarian 
A. Mellifera nigra, Dalmatian 
German bee. Herzegovinian 
Smyrnian 
A. Mellifera fasciata, Tunisian 
Egyptian bee. Common Black 
Syrian (?) 
South Palestin (7) 
Apis Mellifera. mana $s ) 
Greek (?) 
Bonnat (?) 
Caucasian (7?) 
A. Mellifera unicolor 
Latr. Madagascar 
A. Mellifera adonsoni, 
African bee. 
