218 Handling Bees. 



CHAPTEK XIV. 



HANDLING BEES. 



But some one asks the question, shall we not receive those 

 merciless stings, or be introduced to what "Josh" calls the 

 "business end of the bee?" Perhaps there is no more cause- 

 less or more common dread in existence than this of bees' 

 stings. When bees are gathering, they will never sting unless 

 provoked. When at the hives — especially if Italians — they 

 wiU rarely make an attack. The common belief, too, that 

 some persons are more liable to attack than others, is, I think, 

 erroneous. With the best opportunity to judge, with our 

 hundreds of students, I think I may safely say that one is 

 almost always as liable to attack as another, except that he is 

 more quiet, or does not greet the usually amiable passer-by 

 with those terrific thrusts, which would vanquish even a prac- 

 ticed pugilist. Occasionally a person may have a peculiar odor 

 about his person that angers bees and invites their darting tilts, 

 with drawn swords, venom-tipped ; yet, though I take my large 

 classes each season, at frequent intervals, to see and handle 

 the bees, each for himself, I stiU await the first proof of the 

 fact that one person is more liable to be stung than another, 

 providing each carries himself with that composed and dignified 

 bearing that is so pleasing to the bees. True, some people, 

 filled with dread, and the belief that bees regard them with 

 special hate and malice, are so ready for the battle that they 

 commence the strife with nervous head-shakes and beating of 

 the air, and thus force the bees to battle, nolentes volentes. I 

 believe that only such are regarded with special aversion by 

 the bees. Hence, I believe that no one need be stung. 



Bees should never be jarred, nor irritated by quick motions. 

 Those with nervous temperaments — and I plead very guilty on 

 this point — need not give up, but at first better protect their 

 faces, and perhaps even their hands, till time and experience 

 show them that fear is vain ; then they will divest themselves 

 of all such useless encumbrances. Bees are more cross when 

 they are gathering no honey, and at such times, black bees 

 and hybrids especially, are so irritable that even the expe- 

 rienced apiarist will wish a veil. 



