6i6 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
rapidly, and, naturally, make few drone-sized cells. 
They winter better than Italians, and quickly grow 
strong in the spring. Mr. Benton claims that “where 
Italians or blacks could not survive, the Cyprians will 
live and flourish.” He attributes their high quality to 
the unfavourable conditions surrounding them in their 
native island, where forage is often so scarce that it 
is wonderful that a bee remains. The untiring energy 
and perseverance necessary to maintain a subsistence 
under such circumstances, have developed their 
characteristic activity and restlessness, as well as 
fitted them for better defending their stores. 
The Holy Land or Syrian bees are found on the 
higher ground of the Holy Land and Syria. Although 
they vary amongst themselves in minor character- 
istics, they are possibly the progenitors of the two 
previous yellow races. Mr. Silas Clark says of them : 
“They have existed thousands of years — evidently from 
the foundation of the world — and have had no chance 
to mix with other races. The monks in the old con- 
vent near Jerusalem believe that they were the first 
bees given to man.” My acquaintance with them 
IS restricted, but those I have seen are decidedly 
inferior in brightness to Cyprians, although their 
markings are similar and their bodies larger. They 
are splendid foragers, flying, if necessary, to great 
distances from their hives. Their tempers appear to 
be, unfortunately, liable to considerable fluctuation, 
although many stocks can be handled with the same 
ease as Italians. 
When visiting the Rev. G. Raynor, I had given to 
me some most remarkable pieces of comb, proving 
