8 SUCCESSFUL BEE-KEEPING. 
brilliant drones ; and if the drones are the offspring purely 
of the queens, as is generally admitted, may it not be in- 
ferred that possibly none are pure, but that all have a trace 
of black blood in them, showing itself most strikingly in 
queens and drones, which must be carefully bred out be- 
fore we can determine their real characteristics and ren- 
der them uniform in shape, and constant in color? 
The illustrations (magnified) on page 75, were engraved 
from selected specimens, and show the distinctive mark- 
ings and bands in great perfection—the yellow portions 
being represented by white. It will be observed that the 
body is more round and slender, and a little longer, the 
wings somewhat larger in proportion to the body—in fact 
the whole bee appearing more delicate in form and tex- 
ture—than the common bee. 
The testimony of several well known apiarians who 
have had experience with the Italians, is here given, that 
the reader may the better judge whether this new variety 
is worthy of his attention. 
From the Baron of Berlepsch and Mr. Dzierzon : 
The Baron of Berlepsch and Mr. Dzierzon, among the 
most intelligent and skillful bee-keepers of Germany, give 
the Italian decided preference over the common bee. The 
former says he has found— 
“1, That the Italian bees are less sensitive to cold than 
the common kind. 2. That their queens are more pro- 
lific. 38. That the colonies swarm earlier and more fre- 
quently, though of this he has less experience than 
Dzierzon. 4. That they are less apt to sting. Not only 
are they less apt, but scarcely are they inclined to 
sting, though they will do so if intentionally annoyed 
or irritated. 5. They are more industrious. Of this fact 
