THE BEE-STING. 5j 



Bees when alone, or at some distance from thfir hives, 

 will always try to evade man instead of attacking him ; 

 but when bees are gathered in a large colony, many thou- 

 sands strong, they will then attack every intruder who ven- 

 tures to disturb their homes. The worker bees, of which 

 the hive is principally composed, are the soldiers and de- 

 fenders of the colony, over which the queen reigns without 

 a rival. The drones, or male bees, have no defensive 

 weapons, only the workers are armed with stings. It 

 may, however, be relied upon as a rule, that the worker 

 bee will not sting except in its own defence. The point 

 of the sting is barbed like an arrow. When the bee makes 

 use of the sting it is generally driven so deep, especially in 

 a fleshy substance, as not again to be easily withdrawn. 

 In losing her sting she parts with a part of the intestines,, 

 and, of necessity, must soon die. We cannot, therefore,, 

 suppose she will even make use of the sting except whea 

 threatened itself with death, or when she is excessively irri- 

 tated. Under certain circumstances they become quite 

 ferocious, and cannot be pacified for several days ; such is: 

 the case when they are being robbed by bees from other 

 hives ; or, worse still, by the subtle and sly wasp. Nor 

 will they tolerate a sweating horse, or anything that has a 

 disagreeable smell. The apiarian should not disturb his. 

 hives, or attempt to perform any operation amongst the 

 bees when he perspires, and, if he is wise, he will exclude 

 all perfumes from his toilet. Huber clearly shows that 

 bees have an acute sense of smell, but he appears to think 

 it is only unpleasant odours that are offensive. 



Bees dislike anything uncleanly : this may arise in part 

 from their clean habits. It also irritates them to come 

 upon them suddenly, or to pass the bee house in haste, 

 swinging the arms about. The bee-master must go 

 amongst his stocks calmly, and with great coolness. 

 Breathing upon them will not be tolerated ; and when a 



