RACES OF BEES 
715 
in part at least, lias been established, altho 
they are no more so than some good strains 
of pure Italians. Beemen are not agreed, 
however, as to their honey-gathering quali¬ 
ties. Some consider them very interior, 
while others believe they are equal to any 
race in this respect. All admit that they 
are bad propolizers, sticking large chunks 
of gum in all parts of the hive—a trait 
that becomes more manifest as cold weather 
comes on. In this one respect they differ 
radically from Carniolans. 
The most serious objection to them is 
their propensity to swarm. It is even more 
pronounced than with the Carniolans. 
BANAT BEES. 
These are named from a district of Hun¬ 
gary from which they were imported. They 
much resemble the Carniolans in appear¬ 
ance and habit but with less inclination to 
swarm. They are gentle, and impart this 
trait to their offspring when crossed with 
Italians. Even after several generations this 
character is in evidence. The queens are of 
a dark tan color, and no more prolific than 
good Italians, but they build up the colo¬ 
nies more rapidly in the spring. They are 
worthy a more extended trial both in their 
purity and in their crosses. 
TUNISIANS. 
This black race, natives of North Africa, 
are sometimes called “Punics.” They have 
been tested to some extent in this country, 
but so far have not been able to establish 
any claim in their favor that would entitle 
them to consideration on the part of Amer¬ 
ican beekeepers. They are cross, and so 
inclined to smear everything with a red 
bee glue that they are entirely unsuited for 
the production of comb honey. They are 
no better honey-gatherers than gentler 
races. 
EGYPTIANS. 
The Egyptian bee is reputed the most 
beautiful species of Apis. It has been 
named Apis fasiata by entomologists; has 
been cultivated for thousands of years by 
the Egyptians, and was probably the first 
species used by mankind for domestic pur¬ 
poses. 
In the time of the ancient historian 
Herodotus, apiaries were transported up 
and down the Nile so as to keep pace with 
the seasons in Upper and Lower Egypt. 
This practice is continued at the present 
day to a limited extent. Inscriptions on 
tombs show the practice in use 4,000 years 
ago, at least, and that the honeybee was 
highly reverenced by the people of that 
age. 
The Egyptian bee is so much smaller 
than the Italian that the two do not 
hybridize very well; on the contrary, the 
queen, if compelled to mate with a Euro¬ 
pean drone, frequently dies soon after fer¬ 
tilization. It is probably, however, the 
mother-species of the Cyprian, Holy Land, 
and Grecian bees. It is a fast, excellent 
worker, but reputed to possess an irritable 
temper tho kept domesticated for thou¬ 
sands of years. Possibly in a climate sim¬ 
ilar to that of Egypt it would exhibit a 
better temper than in Northern Europe. It 
could hardly be otherwise. 
In color Egyptians are almost identical 
with Italians, but in addition have a coat 
of white hairs, which adds to their appear¬ 
ance. There are varieties, or races, of the 
same species in countries next to Lower 
Egypt. One feature of these bees would 
please Americans, namely, their ability to 
keep themselves pure and uncontaminated 
with other races. There is a similar species 
in Senegal known as Apis Adansonii, of 
which we know but little. 
ALBINOS. 
Albinos are either “sports” from Ital¬ 
ians, or, what is more generally the case, a 
cross between Holy Lands and Italians. 
After testing them the author finds them 
little different from common Italians. The 
fringe, or down, that appears on the rings 
of the abdomen of young bees is a trifle 
whiter than usual, yet no one would observe 
it unless attention is called to it. The 
queens are very yellow, while the workers, 
as honey-gatherers, are decidedly inferior, 
even in the second generation; and when 
light-colored bees or queens are selected for 
several successive generations, unless care 
is used, a weaker progeny lacking ability 
as honey-gatherers and endurance will be 
developed. 
EASTERN RACES OP BEES. 
Cyprians, Holy Lands, or Syrians, are 
