Maud bees

[The Drone Ranger]

Hi Jon
I think that area might have been very well hybridised by then
A R Cumming and Margaret Logan writing in "Beekeeping Craft and Hobby" 1950
"Choice of bees .. it is important to give some thought to the race and still more to the strain of bee to be used...
the British Black Bee was in common use all over the country (nice description follows) then...
This bee is now probably extinct as a as a pure breed although in some parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland the ordinary hybrid now used is probably three quarters Black.
To replace the Black bee, Italians, Dutch, French and Carniolans were introduced, and most of our mongrel bees are now a mixture of many races Dutch and Carniolan bees are much like the old Blacks. They are docile and prolific but so much given to swarming that they are often unprofitable, French bees are frequently very vicious, but they are usually very good workers. Their tempers make them most unsuitable in apiaries near frequented places.
Italian bees of a good strain ..prolific..gentle..easily handled .. commonly kept by honey farmers an good Italian crosses are very strongly recommended.
Of late years, Caucasians, very gentle bees with grey instead of yellow bands have become very popular. An early tendency to use great quantities of propolis appears to have been bred out and Caucasians from a good breeder may well be chosen. It is, however, impossible for the amateur to keep a pure race over a period of years, and young pure bred queens should be bought in from time to time.
Most beginners will be well advised to procure bees bred in their own neighbourhood ...."

Hope I haven't gone too far off topic here but the areas of Aberdeen and Inverness etc were very hybridised by imports right from the early 1900's onwards and the French bees seem to have have a reputation for bad temper.

The statement by Cummings that "it is impossible for the amateur to keep a pure race" shows how hybridised the area was
B. Mobus would not have fallen into the amateur category though

[Jon]

The French bees in the video looked quiet enough judging by the beekeepers prototype Sheriff suit and Trilby.
Hard to know if there is any research behind the comment 'the bee is now probably extinct as a pure breed' or perhaps the author was just propagating the myth spread by Brother Adam to suit his/her own agenda.
Dutch bees would have been AMM as well and would have been quite dissimilar genetically to Carniolans.
The author likely drew a false conclusion re. similarity as they are both dark bees.
Carnica and Ligustica are much more closely related even though the abdomen colours are different.

The statement by Cummings that "it is impossible for the amateur to keep a pure race" shows how hybridised the area was

That would be more accurate if it stated that it is impossible for a beekeeper working on his own to keep a pure race. (Unless you are the single beekeeper on Colonsay)