Chapter D: A. Jones

* * * * *

FRIEND JONES:—* * * I shall start back with nothing but full
colonies. I have seen two native races of bees here, and
the comb of a third; one race is stingless, but worthless;
the tiniest little fellows, three-sixteenths of an inch
long. Another race is _Apis indica_. The third race I do not
believe is valuable, since it is a very small bee—smaller
than _Apis indica_. _Apis dorsata_ is a wonderful bee,
whether it can be domesticated or not. It builds in the open
air, on branches, often making combs 6 feet long; and I have
good authority for saying that 30 natives have each taken
a load of honey from one tree. It was not until I reached
Colombo that I could find out anything about _Apis dorsata_.
I call it _Apis dorsata_, but do not know positively as
that is its name, for no one can tell here, and I have not
yet seen the bee, as it was too late when I learned where
to find it, to go to that part of the Island and reach this
French steamer. Everybody says, though, a large bee, from
which large quantities of honey are obtained, exists in
the interior of the Island. The natives all know it by the
name _Bombera_. I start for Singapore by the French steamer
“Yangste,” on January 31st.

FRANK BENTON.

=Circulars and Price Lists.=—We have received the following Circulars, Price Lists and Catalogues for 1881:

L. H. Pammel & Bros., LaCrosse, Wis.—Italian Queens and
Bees—4 pages.

Champion Bee Hive Co., Newcomerstown, O.—Apiarian
Supplies—12 pages.

Thomas J. Ward, St. Mary’s Ind.—Fruit Trees and Poultry—16
pages.

T. Greiner, Naples, N. Y.—Vegetable and Flower Seeds—24
pages.