igo THE APIARY. 



of the bee; perchance a few bees are dyspeptic, and 

 refuse to be pacified, let their master seek to bribe 

 them never so wisely. Then, too, sometimes the bee- 

 master himself may be dyspeptic, which the unerring- 

 olfactory sense of the bees speedily detects, and their 

 anger is immediately aroused. Some few persons, owing 

 to constitutional peculiarities in their breath or insensible 

 perspiration, are objects of constant animosity with bees, 

 who, by driving them from the apiary, are giving a 

 physician's advice without charge for a fee. Some of 

 the choicest perfumes used by ladies are offensive to 

 bees; and one may feel very certain that the " fine puss 

 gendeman," who disgusted the brave Hotspur with his 

 " pouncet-box " and praise of " 'parmaceti for an in- 

 ward bruise," would have been speedily driven from an 

 apiary in ignominious flight. Occasionally, even a 

 skilful apiarian may inadvertently crush a single bee ; 

 such a mischance is detected by the community with 

 much more facility than by any " crowner's quest," and 

 their prompt verdict decrees the summary punishment 

 of the offender. There would be much less fear of stings 

 if it were always remembered that bees are never 

 aggressive. "Defence, not defiance," is their motto. 

 They scarcely ever attempt to sting when away from 

 the hive, and very seldom indeed at the time of swarm- 

 ing, for then they are gorged with honey. When 

 molested by angry bees, do not attempt to beat them off; 

 the safest and best retreat is a green bush. Thrust your 



