192 HANDLING BEES. 
we fully agree with him, White veils are most especi- 
ally objectionable. Green is the best color after black. 
387. The hands may be protected by india-rubber 
gloves, such as are now in common use. These gloves, 
while impenetrable to the sting of a bee, do not materially 
interfere with the operations of the Apiarist. As soon, 
however, as he acquires confidence and skill, he will much 
prefer to use nothing but the bee-hat, even at the expense 
of an occasional sting on his hands. 
An English Apiarist advises persons using gloves to 
cut the tips of the fingers so as to handle the frames more 
dexterously, and to wash their fingers with some kind of 
Apifuge. 
Stings on the hands usually cause but little suffering or 
swelling, while stings on the face are quite painful; and 
the grotesque appearance which the swelling often gives 
to the human face, makes it much more desirable to 
protect the head than the hands. 
If the hands are wet with honey, they will seldom be 
stung. 
388. All woolen clothes are more objectionable to 
bees than linen or cotton, for wool resembles the hair of 
animals, being nade of it, while linen or cotton resembles 
the twigs and leaves of plants being made of vegetable 
fibre. Butler says: 
“They use their stings against such things as have out- 
wardly some offensive excrement, such as hair or feathers, 
the touch whereof provoketh them to sting. If they 
alight upon the hair of the head or beard, they will sting 
if they can reach the skin. When they are angry their 
aim is most commonly at the face, but the bear hand that 
is not hairy, they will seldom sting, unless they be much 
offended.” —*“ Feminine Monarchy,” 1609. 
389. In handling bees, it is not always necessary to 
compel them to fill themselves with honey. With the quiet 
Italians (551,) a few puffs of smoke, at the entrance, when 
