Vol. XXV] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 4OQ 



most part incidentally to the regular routine work of the apiary 

 and hitherto little or no endeavor has been made to test the 

 matter experimentally. The following series of experiments, 

 therefore, were performed for this purpose. 



On a clear, warm day in August I dressed wholly in white 

 with the exception of a black veil. Midway on the sleeve of 

 my right arm there was sewed a band of black cloth ten inches 

 wide. I then entered the bee-yard and, removing the cover 

 from one of the hives, lifted a piece of comb with both hands 

 and gently shook it. Instantly many of the bees flew to the 

 black band, which they continued to attack as long as they 

 were disturbed. Not a single bee attempted to sting the left 

 sleeve, which was of course entirely white, and very few even 

 alighted upon it. 



This experiment was repeated a second, third and fourth 

 time ; in each instance with similar results. I estimated the 

 number of bees on the band of black cloth at various moments 

 was from thirty to forty ; it was evident from their behavior 

 that they were extremely irritable. To the left white sleeve 

 and the other white portions of my clothing they paid very 

 little attention ; but the black veil was very frequently attacked. 



A few days later the experiments were repeated, but the 

 band of black cloth, ten inches wide, was sewed around my 

 left arm instead of around the right arm as before. When 

 the bees were disturbed, after the hive cover had been re- 

 moved, they fiercely attacked the band of black cloth as in the 

 previous experiences ; but the right white sleeve and the white 

 suit were scarcely noticed. At one time a part of the black 

 cloth was almost literally covered with furiously stinging bees, 

 and the black veil was assailed by hundreds. The bees be- 

 haved in a similar manner when a second hive on the opposite 

 side of the apiary was opened. 



A white veil, which had been procured for this purpose, was 

 next substituted for the black veil. The result was most sur- 

 prising, for, whereas in the previous experiments hundreds of 

 bees had attacked the black veil, so few flew against the white 

 veil as to cause me no inconvenience. Undoubtedly beekeep- 



