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the common black bee ; they work more steadily 
through the season ; when the common black bees are 
hanging idly about the hive, the Italians are constantly 
at work ; their queens are more prolific, consequently 
more workers are to be found in a stock of this variety, 
they are long-lived, while the common black bees lose 
a large number of their working force by an early 
death. 
2d. The queens are more prolific breeders ; they 
not only lay more eggs in a specified time, but also 
commence to breed earlier and continue later in the 
season, consequently the stocks increase faster, usually 
swarming several weeks earlier, oftener, and in seasons 
when the common bees do not. 
3d. They are less inclined to rob each other, and 
defend their hive more effectually against robbers of 
any variety. 
4th. They guard their hive better against the in- 
vasion of the moth miller, and their combs are seldom, 
if ever, injured by the depredations of the bee-moth. 
5th. The pure Italians are of a more amiable dis- 
position, often to such an extent that some assert they 
will not sting under any circumstances ; another calls 
them, on account of their peaceable disposition, “the 
domestic or tame honey-bee ; ” and the common bees 
are called by the same writer “ the wild bees.” 
