376 THE BKE EKEPEK'S MANUAL. 



himself of the principles laid down in this Treatise, both 

 easily and safely do everythi»g that is at all desirable, even 

 to the driving of a powerful colony from an old box hive. 

 When bees are improperly dealt with, they will " compass" 

 their assailant " about," with the most savage ferocity, and 

 woe be to him if they can creep up his clothes, or find 

 on his person a single unprotected spot ! On the contrary, 

 when not provoked by foolish management or wanton abuse, 

 the few who are bent on mischief, appear to retain still 

 some touch of grace, amid all their desperation. Like the 

 thorough bred scold, who by the elevated pitch of her voice-> 

 often gives timely warning to those who would escape from 

 the sharp sword of her tongue, a bee bent upon mischief 

 raises its note almost an octave above the peaceable pitch, 

 and usually gives us timely warning, that it means to sting, 

 if it can. Even then, it will seldom proceed to extremities, 

 unless it can leave its sting somewhere upon the face of its 

 victim, and usually as near as possible to the eye ; for bees 

 and all other members of the stinging tribe, seem to have, 

 as it were, an intuitive perception that this is the most vulner- 

 able spot upon the " human face divine." If the head is 

 quietly lowered, and the face covered with the hands, they 

 will often follow a person for some rods, all the time 

 sounding their war note in his ears, taunting him for his 

 sneaking conduct, and daring him, just for one single mo- 

 ment, to look up and allow them to. catch bu.t a glimpse of 

 his coward face 1 



If a person is suddenly attacked by angry bees, no mat- 

 ter how numerous or vindictive they may be, not the slight- 

 est attempt should ever be made to act on the offensive. If 

 a single bee is violently struck at, a dozen will soon be on 

 hand to avenge the insult, and if the resistance is still con- 

 tinued, hundreds and at last thousands ^wiil join in the attack. 



