Appeitdix. 
105 
them. I then added three, making four stories in all. 
The three lower ones were filled, and the fourth 
already contained ten pounds of honey without a 
swarm having issued from the stock hive. 
Independently of the productiveness of the queen, 
the prosperity of Italian colonies is attributable to 
other causes. I have already pointed out one \ namely, 
the length of the tongue, which allows them to gather 
honey from flowers when other bees can get none. 
Besides this, the Italian bee leaves the hive earlier 
in the morning than the common bee, and leaves off 
working later at night, in consequence of which the 
former is out at hours when the influence of the dew 
is felt — a circumstance which allows her to collect 
more honey. 
Moreover, the Italian bee is more direct in her 
flight. The bees of the country fly about in front of 
the hive before entering it, whilst Italian or cross- 
bred bees enter immediately. 
As to the calumnies which are circulated about this 
race, we are quite ready to endeavour to efface them, 
speaking from our own experience. 
It is said that they rob their neighbours to a greater 
extent than the common bee ! I must own, after 
many years’ experience, that I have never known the 
robbing of a hive to be begun by Italian bees, but nearly 
always by the bees of the country; still, the contest 
once begun, the Italian bees, like all others of their 
species, take part in dividing the spoils. In return, 
they defend themselves against robber bees with 
greater vigour. 
