38 AUSTRALASIAN 
honey in the hilly districts both in the north and south of 
India. Mr. Morgan, Deputy Conservator of Forests, reports 
that “only one kind of bee, the Apis indica, 18 capable of 
domestication, and that only in hilly districts, not in the 
plains.” The larger sort of bees, which they call “large cliff 
bees ” (building in cliffs, under projecting ledges of rock) are 
represented as so ferocious in habit, and furnished with such 
formidable stings, as to be dangerous to both men and beasts 
coming within their neighbourhood. A circumstantial account 
of a bad case of stinging by these bees appeared in a recent 
issue of the American Bee Journal, taken from the London 
Lancet, which called forth the following editorial remarks : 
‘We do not think we want any of these bees in America. The 
Cyprians are bad enough; but for these bees of India (Apis 
indica), as well as their more irascible cousins (Apis dorsata), 
we have no use. Let them stay where they are.” Mr. John 
Douglas, of the Indian Telegraph Department, says, “A swarm 
of these bees has been known to put a regiment of cavalry to 
flight, and innumerable are the instances in which man and 
beast have fallen victims to their unrelenting animosity;” yet 
he proposes the domestication of this “‘ great tiger honey fly” 
(as it is called in parts of the country) as the ‘first question 
for Indian apiculturists !” Mr. Benton has been making efforts 
to import the Apis dersata from Ceylon; but if they are not 
very different in disposition from the Apis indica, we in Aus- 
tralasia may echo the words of the American Bee Journal, 
“ Let them stay where they are!” 
NATIVE BEES OF NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. 
Notwithstanding the assertion of Dr. Gerstaecker, there are 
indigenous bees both in New Zealand and Australia. The 
small bees indigenous to New Zealand, I believe, belong to the 
species Apis tregona. It makes its nest in the ground, by boring 
a small hole from the surface, about two inches in depth; holes 
then branch off in different directions : these branch holes ex- 
tend two or three inches, and at the bottom of each is deposited 
a mixture of honey and pollen, in which the eggs are laid. JT 
dug up several nests last season, and found brood in different 
stages, but there only appeared to have been one ege deposited 
in each compartment. It is of no service to the apiarist. 
