THE WORKER. 
85 
“THE WORKER.” 
The abdomen of the Italian worker bee is somewhat longer 
than that of the native. This is more perceptible when it is 
gorged with honey or returning to its hive heavily laden with 
honey. The lower extremity of the abdomen is also more 
slenderly pointed, which, together with its rich coloring, 
gives it a more graceful and elegant appearance. The three 
first abdominal rings (including the one joined to the waist) 
are of a beautiful yellow or straw color. The second and 
third, and sometimes the first, of these rings or bands are 
edged with a narrow border of dark brown or black. The first 
does not always extend entirely across on the back of the bee, 
and is very slender, each succeeding one slightly increasing 
in breadth. Queens which breed any workers with a less 
number of yellowabdominal rings than three, are assuredly not 
pure. Where they have the full number of yellowish bands, 
and those bands are of a smoky cast and black, bordering 
unusually wide, it is, at least, an indication of doubtful pu- 
rity. It not unfrequently occurs that queens three-fourths 
pure, breed workers all, or nearly all, thus marked. The 
temperament of the pure Italian bee is exceedingly gentle. 
They not only rarely offer to sting, but seldom manifest any 
anger. Though their hives be opened from day to day the 
whole season through, the same docility is manifested by 
pure colonies as when disturbed only a few times during the 
season, so that this is unquestionably an inherent charac- 
teristic. When they do sting, however, it is done with the 
greatest imaginable determination and force. 
There is, however, a great difference in the temperament 
of different colonies of the impure race, some of the higher 
Italian grades manifesting much of the gentleness of the pure 
race. The physical strength and courage of the Italian bee 
is greater than that of the native, which it speedily over- 
comes in either single combat or battle array. A colony of 
native bees, once attacked by an Italian colony of nearly 
equal numbers, cannot successfully resist them, and soon be- 
come its prey, unless timely succor be extended to it. They 
are by no means conscientious on this point. As soon as they 
can no longer procure honey from the flowers, they may bo 
found lurking about in search of weak and defenceless colo- 
onies, which they soon destroy if permitted. Still, however, 
