288 KACES OF BEES. 



in the Fall of 1863 and 1864 Mr. Langstroth also imported 

 queens from the same Apiary, but the first large successful 

 importations were made by Adam Grimm of Wisconsin, in 

 1867, from the Apiary of Prof. Mona of Belhnzona, and by 

 us in 1874, from the Apiary of Signer Giuseppe Fiorini of 

 Monselice, Italy. Since then, Mr. A. I. Root, and others, 

 have succeeded well nearly every season. 



This valuable variety of the honey-bee is now extensively 

 disseminated in North America. 



For directions on breeding and shipping Italian bees, see 

 the chapters on Queen Raising (497) and Shipping Bees 

 (687). 



559. The Egyptian bees (Apis fasciata) are smaller and 

 brighter than the Italian bee. The hairs of their body are 

 more whitish, and their motions are quick and flj'-like. Their 

 prolificness is grea.t, but their ill-disposition has caused 

 many who have tried them to abandon them. 



The Cyprian bees (a sub-race of Apis fasciata) were 

 imported from Cyprus to Europe in 1872, and they were 

 so much praised that, in 1880, two enterprising American 

 Apiarists, Messrs. D. A. Jones and Frank Benton made a 

 trip to Cyprus and the Holy Land, and brought bees from 

 both countries to America. 



The Cyprian bees resemble the Italian bees. The main 

 difference between them, in appearance, is a bright yellow 

 shield on the thorax of the Cyprians not to be seen in the 

 Italians, and the yellow rings of the former are brighter, 

 of a copper color, especially under the abdomen. Their 

 drones are beautiful. 



Their behavior is like that of the Egyptians ; quick and 

 ready, they promptly assail those who dare handle them. 

 Smoke astonishes but does not subdue them. At each 

 puff of the smoker (382), they emit a sharp, trilling 

 sound, not easily forgotten, resembling that of '^ meat in 

 the frying pan," and as soon as the smoke disappears, they 



