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metatarsus. The cavity is fringed with stiff hairs or spines, forming a 
comb. The distal or opposing end of the tibia is furnished with a spur, 
slightly concave on the inner surface and known as the velum. When 
the tibia and metatarsus are bent at right angles the velum falls over 
the cavity and forms an almost circular opening just large enough to 
snugly hold one antenna. 
These are the more conspicuous structures, though there are others 
of minor importance, all indicating remarkable adaptation to special 
purposes and to the necessities of the bee. 
The Hive Bee is but one of the many species of its family, and while 
representing the most highly organized of the social insects, has many 
cousins and more distant relatives which are equally interesting. The 
numerous bees, with their diversified habits, have an especial interest, 
when studied structurally and biologically, as throwing light on the 
origin and development not only of the higher social habits and intelli- 
gences of the true Hive Bee, but also of its structures^ so remarkably 
fitted for their special purposes. 
SPECIES OF GENUS APIS AND VARIATIONS IN APIS MELLIFICA. 
The old conception of the Hive Bee, its attributes and structures, 
was that it exemplifies in a marvelous manner creative wisdom for 
man's interests. Yet, while it represents great perfection of organiza- 
tion and of structure, for particular ends, this perfection is relative and 
not absolute. Though a number of species of the genus Apis have 
been characterized by authors, there are but four well-defined species 
sc far known, and three of them — A. dorsata, A. indica r &nd A.florea — 
are confined to India and the East Indian and Philippine Islands. 
The fourth, Apis mellijica, or the common Hive Bee, was originally 
introduced into this country from Europe, and doubtless had its origin 
in some parts of Asia. It has followed civilized man in his migrations 
over the globe, and has frequently anteceded him, and, being semi- 
domesticated, has been more or-less influenced by him, as have other 
domesticated animals. Some ten different types of the species have 
been characterized by specific names, two of them, viz, adansoni Latr* 
and unicolor Latr., being considered good species by Frederick Smith, 
while a still greater number are recognized by local names among 
apiculturists. These varieties and races show every variation in color 
through the various shades of black, gray, and golden-yellow, as also 
every variation in disposition, industry, and tendency to swarm, and 
especially in honey- gathering proclivities. 
Of the East Indian sjjecies only one, Apis indica, is cultivated. This 
bee, which is considerably smaller than our own, building smaller 
combs composed of smaller cells (36 to the square inch), chooses, when 
wild, a hollow tree or rocky cavity for its home. It is kept to a limited 
extent by the natives, earthen jars being used for hives, but the yield 
of honey is small. 
