THE ITALIAN BEE. 



293 



respects it had no peculiar merits. Its introduction into this 

 country, has helped to constitute the new era in bee-keeping, 

 and has imparted much interest to its pursuit. It is one of 

 the causes which have enabled America to surpass the world 

 in the production of honey. 



553. Their appearance can be described as follows: 

 "The first three abdominal rings (fig. 113) of the worker 

 bee are transparent, and vary from a dark straw or golden 

 color to the deep yellow of ochre. These rings have a nar- 

 row dark edge or border, so that the yellow, which is some- 

 times called leather color, constitutes the ground, and is 



seemingly barred over by these black 

 edges. 'This is most distinctly percepti- 

 ble when a brood-comb, on which bees 

 are densely crowded, is taken out of a 

 hive, or when a bee is put on a window. 

 When the bee is full of honey these 

 rings extend and slide out of one another, 

 and the yellow bands show to better ad- 

 vantage, especially if the honey eaten is 

 of a light color. On the contrary, during 

 a dearth of honey, the rings are drawn 

 up, or telescoped in one another, and the 

 bee hardly looks like the same insect. 

 This peculiarity has annoyed many bee- 

 <From The A B c of keepers, who imagined their beautiful bees 

 ^® " ""^"^ had suddenly become hybrids. 



In doubtful cases, as the purity of Italian bees is very 

 important, it is well to follow the advice of A. I. Root: "If 

 you are undecided in regard to your bees' purity, get some 

 of the bees and feed them all the honey they can take; now 

 put them on a window, and if the band C (fig. 113) is not 

 plainly visible, call them hybrids." 



554. Aside from this test, their tenacity and quietness 

 on the comb, while handled, are infallible signs of purity. 

 We have repeatedly carried a frame of brood covered with 



Pig. 113. 



ABDOMEN OP THE 

 ITALIAN BEE, 



