32 Other Species of Apis. 



Ceylon, China, and Borneo, as distinct species. He thinks, 

 also, that Apis Adansoni and Apis nigrocincta are distinct, but 

 states that they may be varieties of Apis Indica. Some regard 

 Apis unicolor as a distinct species, but it is probably a variety 

 of Apis dorsata. As Apis mellifica has not been found in 

 India, and is a native of Europe,^ Western Asia, and Africa, 

 it seems quite possible though not probable that several of the 

 above may turn out to be only varieties of Apis meUifica. If 

 there are only color arid size to distinguish them, and, indeed, 

 one may add habits, then we may suspect, with good reason, 

 the validity of the above arrangement. If there is structural 

 difference, as Mr. Wallace says there is, in the male dorsata, 

 then we may call them different species. The Italian certainly 

 has a longer tongue than the German, yet that is not sufficient 

 to separate them as species. Apis zonata and Apis unicolor, 

 both of the East Indies, are said to be very black. 



In the Autumn of 1879, JVJr. D. A. Jones, of Beeton, On- 

 tario, Canada, inaugurated the grandest enterprise ever under- 

 taken in the interests of apiculture. This was nothing less 

 than to. visit Cyprus, Syria, and the more distant India and 

 the East Indies, for the purpose of securing and introducing 

 into America such species and races of bees as gave promise of 

 superior excellence. Mr. Jones procured the services of Mr. 

 Frank Benton, a graduate of Michigan Agricultural College, 

 a fine linguist and skilled ajfiarist, to aid in this great under- 

 taking. After visiting the principal apiaries of Europe, these 

 gentlemen located at L'arnica, in the Island of Cyprus, where 

 they established a large apiary composed of Cyprian and Syrian 

 bees. The Cyprian bees were purchased on the Island, while 

 the Syrians were procured personally by Mr. Jones in Syria. 

 The following June, Mr. Jones returned to America with 

 several hundred queens of these two races. Mr. Benton re- 

 mained at Larnica to rear and ship more queens to Europe and 

 America. The following winter Mr. Benton visited Ceylon, 

 Farther India, and Java, as Mr. Jones was determined to as- 

 certain if there were better bees than those we already had, 

 and if so to secure them. Apis dorsata was the special object 

 of the quest, and as this bee was known as the ' ' great bee of 

 Java ", Mr. Benton visited that island, in hopes to procure 

 these bees. But to the sore disappointment not only of those 

 who had the enterprise in charge, but of aU progressive apiar- 



