Poor Hermann himself did not profit by the discovery of the mine. His enthusiasm for the culture of the Alpine bee instead of wafting him to El Dorado appears to have driven him to the prosaic retreat of a debtor's prison. By the latest accounts we learn that--his ardent spirit chafing against his incarceration,--he had made an attempt to escape, and in doing so, fell from the prison walls and broke both legs. We understand that he has since died. In the pamphlet referred to, Mr. Hermann gives the following description of what he insists on designating as _Apis Helvetica_:-- "The yellow Italian Alp-bee is a mountain insect; it is found between two mountain chains to the right and left of Lombardy and the Rhetian Alps, and comprises the whole territory of Tessins, Veltlin, and South-Graubunden. It thrives up to the height of 4,500 feet above the level of the sea, and appears to prefer the northern clime to the warmer, for in the south of Italy it is not found. The Alps are their native country, therefore they are called _Yellow Alp-bee_, or tame house bees, in contra distinction to the black European bees, whom we might call common forest bees, and who, on the slightest touch, fly like lightning into your face.(?) "As all good and noble things in the world are more scarce than common ones, so there are more common black bees than of the noble yellow race, which latter inhabit only a very small piece of country, while the black ones are at home everywhere in Europe, and even in America." Notwithstanding the death of M. Hermann, we shall in future be able to supply all bee-keepers, who may wish to possess stocks of the genuine yellow Alpine bees. The Italian varies but little from the common bees in its physical characteristics. The difference in appearance consists in the first rings of the abdomen, except the posterior edge, and the base of the third--being of an orange colour instead of a deep brown. These orange coloured parts are transparent when closely examined with the sun shining on them. The Italian bees are more active than common bees when on the wing. During the summers of 1859 and 1860 we had over from the Continent a great number of Ligurian queens; these were sent to all parts of the kingdom. We regret to say that but few were successfully united to English stocks. It requires a considerable amount of apiarian skill to accomplish the union, so that we find by experience it is best to send out complete Ligurian stocks. This is particularly desirable now that the packing of whole hives is so easily accomplished by us with the aid of bars and frames. We have sent a great number of stocks to all parts by rail.