bee-kekper's manual. 85 



sufficient numbers to be observed. They are of the 

 same size as the ordinary workers, differing in nothing 

 relative to their organic structure, that can be perceived, 

 the only difference being the color, which is a jet black. 

 Huber states that a war of extermination is waged 

 against them, and that they meet a violent death in the 

 same manner that drones are expelled and slain ; but 

 this does not coincide with my observations, nor with 

 the observations of any other apiarian, as far as my 

 knowledge extends. 



These black bees, when they do appear, which is sel- 

 dom, are only seen in the summer season, and then in 

 very small numbers. They do not appear to take so 

 active a part, in the labors of the family, as the ordinary 

 workers, and sometimes they seem to do little or nothing. 

 Where they cOme from, or by what cause they become 

 black, has never been shown. Huber thought that they 

 came forth from the cells black, but it is far more rea- 

 sonable, to suppose them to become black from age. 

 We know that the very young bee, is of a light grey 

 color ; and a few days exposure to the atmosphere turns 

 its color to a darker hue, and old age may cause some 

 bees to become entirely black, at the season of the year 

 when such bees appear. Man's locks turn white with 

 age — some much more than others ; and why may we 

 not suppose that age will also change some bees to a jet 

 black, since we positively know, that time does gene- 

 rally give them, in all cases, a darker hue ? 



