BEE-PROTECTOR. 167 
another is made from the marsh stone-crop, or Sedum 
palustre. 
Precautions.—If attacked by a bee, the best plan is 
not to offer resistance, but to walk away and thrust 
your head into a neighbouring shrub or bush, when 
the enemy will in all probability retire. In addition 
to the hints given at the commencement of this section, 
there are some peculiarities in the ways and moods 
of bees, against which it is well to be on one’s guard. 
Without asserting that they are actually fond of par- 
ticular persons, we know that their strong discrimina- 
tion of scent renders others the objects of their very 
marked dislike. They appear to be offended by any 
strong smell which is not that of sugar or of wax; 
hence, whether it be a sweaty horse or a highly 
perfumed dandy, they are equally wont to declare war 
against him. There are also particular periods and 
occasions when they are vastly more irascible than at 
others. The loss of their stores in autumn is likely to 
make them deeply resentful; hot weather or electricity 
puts them out of sorts, and so does being kept at 
home by rain. They, again, are naturally more 
excitable if interfered with at night or at any un- 
seasonable hour, or when some previous cause of 
distraction has arisen, as the discovery that they are 
queenless, and this even during the half-hour or so 
that her majesty is absent on her wedding flights. The 
importance of calmness and confidence has already 
been noted, and it is said that the bees are far more 
likely to attack a person who watches at a supposed 
safe distance, or who fidgets about, or covers his face 
with his hands, than one who advances boldly into 
