292 RACES OF BEES. 



548. Bees, like all otlici- insects, are divided scientifically 

 into genera, species, and varieties. 



Aristotle speaks of three different varieties of the honey- 

 bee, as well known in his time. The best larieti,- he describes 

 as small, and round in size and shape, and variegated in 

 color. 



Virgil (Georgica, lib. IV., i)8) speaks of two kinds as flour- 

 ishing in his time; the better of the two he thus describes: 



"Elucent alise, et fulgore coruscant, 

 Ardente? auro, et paribus lita corpora guttis. 

 Ha>c potior soboles; hiiic ea;Ii tempore certo 

 Duleia mella premis. ' ' 



"The others glitter, and their variegated bodies shine like 

 drops of sprinkling gold. This better breed! Thanhs to them, 

 if the leeallier of the sky is certain, you will have honey 

 eomtjs to pjress." 



This belter variety, it will be seen, he characterizes as 

 spotted or variegated, and of a beautiful golden color. 



549. The first bee introduced into America, was the com- 

 mon bee of Europe, AVesteni Asia, and Western Africa, Apis 

 meilifica, now called Apis mellifera, by many. "Jlellifiea" 

 means "honey maker," while "Mellifera" means "honey bear- 

 ei'." It is usually designaled under the name of black, or gray 

 bee. Both names aix' appropriate, since the race varies in 

 shade, acccirding I<j localities. In the greater jjart of Aiiica, 

 as well as in the Euroi)ean provinces of Turkey, the common 

 lices are dark, nearly black. In other places, their color is 

 grayish. They vary in size, as well. According to some 

 French writers, the bees of Holland are small, and denomi- 

 nated "la petite IloHandaise" (the little Hollander) ; on the 

 other hand, the Carniolan" bees are Cjuite large. We have 

 never seen queens as large as some Carniolans which we im- 

 ])orted some thirty years ago. But, in sisite of the prolifieness 



* Carniola is a province of Austria, near the Adriatic, but on the 

 East slope of the mountains. 



