214 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



The Typical Bee dark- coloured. 



Having thus given a short account of what is understood by 

 the law of variation, and the tendency of throwing back or rever- 

 sion, I will now try to apply these laws for the establishment of 

 my argument, that probably the Brown bee most resembles the 

 original type from which all the known domesticated races and 

 varieties have descended. 



The characteristic of any animal which is most subject to 

 variability, more especially pronounced when under domestica- 

 tion, is, without doubt, that of colour, and on this account it is, 

 likewise, generally most affected by the tendency towards rever- 

 sion. Bees form no exception to this rule, and are to a con- 

 siderable extent subject to this variability, which has been proved 

 by the easy manner in which, during a few years, the yellow 

 colour of some strains has been increased, so that at present four 

 and five yellow-banded, as well as, so-called, golden bees are pro- 

 duced. This variability would have been before now still more 

 intensified, or, at least, would have been even more rapidly 

 accomplished than it has been, if a direct selection between indi- 

 viduals, which show the specially desired colouring, could be 

 made ; but such a distinct selection for any special purpose can- 

 not be achieved on account of the peculiar structure of the bees, 

 which necessitates an inflation of air for the purpose of accom- 

 plishing the act of coition, and which, therefore, can only take 

 place during the flight of the insects. The strongly-inherited 

 inclination towards a yellow colouring, found in many strains, 

 would almost tend to demonstrate that this was probably the 

 colour of the typical ancestor. 



However, it must not be forgotten that when a variation is 

 once acquired it may almost indelibly imprint itself upon a strain, 

 and, under favourable conditions, be accentuated in the de- 

 scendants. The fact that a number of races and varieties are 

 yellow-banded is, therefore, no proof that their remote ancestors 

 were likewise yellow-banded ; on the contrary, a colour variation, 

 unless it appears as a "sport," or is decidedly detrimental to the 

 welfare of a species, may readily be influenced by sexual selec- 

 tion, and become perpetuated. It must also be borne in mind 

 that among insects colour does not always play nearly the same 

 important part that it does, for instance, among reptiles, birds, 



