308 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE ANGER OF BEES REMEDIES FOR THEIR STINGS, 



THE gentleness of bees, when properly managed, makes 

 them wonderfully subject to human control. When 

 gorged with honey, they may be taken up by handfuls, 

 and suffered to . run over the face, and may even have 

 their glossy backs gently smoothed as they rest on our 

 persons ; and all the feats of the celebrated Wildman may 

 be safely imitated by experts, who, by securing the queen, 

 can make the bees hang in large festoons from their chin, 

 without incurring any risk of being taken by the beard. 

 " Such was the spell, which round a Wildman's arm, 



Twin'd in dark wreaths the fascinated swarm ; 



Bright o'er his breast the glittering legions led, 



Or with a living garland bound his head. 



His dextrous hand, with firm yet hurtless hold, 



Could seize the chief, known by her scales of gold, 



Prune 'mid the wondering train her filmy wing, 



Or o'er her folds the silken fetter fling." 



M. Lombard, a skillful French Apiarian, narrates the 

 following interesting occurrence, to show how peaceable 

 bees are in swarming time, and how easily managed by 

 those who have both skill and confidence : 



" A young girl of my acquaintance, who was much afraid of 

 bees, was completely cured of her fear by the following incident : 

 A swarm having come off, I observed the queen alight by herself 

 at a little distance from the Apiary. I immediately called my little 

 friend, that I might show her the queen; she wished to see her 

 more nearly ; so, after having caused her to put on her gloves, I 

 gave the queen into her hand. We were in an instant surrounded 

 by the whole bees of the swarm. In this emergency, I encouraged 



