REMEDIES FOR THE STING OF A BEE. 317 



wide, by two and a half feet long, will make a good fit 

 for most persons. With such a hat, there is no danger 

 from waspish bees, and its cape may be tucked under the 

 coat, or so securely fastened, as to defy all assailants. 



The hands may be protected by india-rubber gloves, 

 such as are now in common use. These gloves, while 

 impenetrable to the sting of a bee, do not materially 

 interfere with the operations of the Apiarian. As soon, 

 however, as the bee-keeper acquires confidence and skill, 

 he will much prefer to use nothing but the bee-hat, even 

 at the expense of an occasional sting on his hands. If the 

 hands are wet with honey, they will seldom be stung. 



Woolen gloves are objectionable, as everything rough 

 or hairy has an extremely irritating influence upon bees. 

 This is probably owing to the fact that, in a state of 

 nature, bears, foxes, and other hairy animals, are their 

 principal enemies. No sooner do they feel the touch of 

 anything rough or hairy, than they dart out their stings. 



Butler says : " They use their stings against such things 

 as have outwardly some offensive excrement, such as hair 

 or feathers, the touch whereof provoketh them to sting. 

 If they alight upon the hair of the head or beard, they 

 will sting if they can reach the skin. When they are 

 angry, their aim is most commonly at the face, but the 

 bare hand, that is not hairy, they will seldom sting, unless 

 they be much offended." 



