BEE MANUAL. 37 
the Italian, and not so slender in shape. It is, in fact, a larger bee— 
probably the largest domesticated bee. The entire body is of a rich 
dark brown, almost approaching to black. The golden rings of the 
Italian are wanting, but each rim of the abdomen is clearly marked by 
whitish-grey hairs, which render it distinct from any other known 
race ; and these hairs being longer and brighter than those of the 
Italian, give the bee asilvery-bright appearance which is very pleasing 
to the eye. . . . The Carniolan queen is a larger bee, broader in the 
thorax, and especially in the upper part of the abdomen, than the 
Italian or black queen.” 
HERZEGOVIAN, DALMATIAN, ROUMELIAN, AND HYMETTUS BEES 
Mr. Benton has lately introduced queens under these four 
names. ‘The three first mentioned would seem to be, like the 
Cyprians and Syrians, only slight varieties of the sort comprised 
by Gerstaecker under head No. 3. The Hymettus bee is, how- 
ever, specially mentioned by him as a slight variety of the 
German or black bee, and already known by the name of Apis 
cecropia. This bee has, at all events, the advantage of a classic 
reputation. Gibbon mentions, on the authority of Geoponica, 
that ‘‘the ancients, or at least the Athenians, believed that all 
the bees in the world had been propagated from Mount Hy- 
mettus.” The qualities of ali these four varieties (if they are 
such) have yet to be tried. Mr. Benton wrote of them in 
November, 1883— 
‘¢Of the four races mentioned last, I have only tried practically the 
Hymettus, or Greek bees (also called Cecropian or Attic bees). They 
are prolific, good honey-gatherers, quite cross, but can be managed 
with plenty of smoke. Herzegovian and Dalmatian bees 1 know by 
reputation, and am thus safe in calling them superior to common bees 
and to Italians. Of Roumelian bees I know nothing ; but as I have 
an opportunity to get some of them next spring, and having reason to 
hope they may have good qualities, I shall try them.” 
OTHER RACES OF BEES. 
There are three sorts of bees mentioned by Dr. Gerstaecker 
as being “indigenous to India and the adjacent islands,” Apis 
dorsata, A. indica, and A. sirialis of Fabricius ; all, no doubt, 
being varieties of the 4. mellifica. The Indian Government 
lately published the results of some inquiries they had insti- 
tuted concerning the ‘popular treatment of bees in India,” 
from which it would appear that there are plenty of bees and 
