The Sting 105 



old friend, he was treated as a trespasser ; nor was he ever 

 able after this period to perform any operation with them, 

 or to approach their precincts, without exciting their anger. 

 Here then it is pretty evident that some change had taken 

 place in the Counsellor's secretions in consequence of the 

 fever, which, though not noticeable by his friends, was 

 offensive to the olfactory nerves of the bees." 



There is no mistaking a bee's intentions when it has 

 made up its mind to sting. 



It leaves the even tenor of its way, flies straight at you, 

 buzzes angrily about your head for a moment, and then 

 grips you. It clings fast with its feet in a most disagreeable 

 and suggestive manner, and if you succeed in brushing it off 

 before it stings, it is immediately felt in another place, and 

 before you can strike it there in all probability it has struck 

 you, and you dash it away ; and if you are wise instantly 

 follow the advice of Butler, which, though given in 1609, 

 is still timely : — 



" When yon are stung, or any in the company, yea, 

 though a bee have stricken but your clothes, especially in 

 hot weather, you were best be packing as fast as you can ; 

 for the other bees smelUng the rank savor of the poison cast 

 out with the sting, will come about you as thick as hail." 



And further he adds : — 



" Then is there no way to appease them but flight : the 

 more you resist, the fiercer they are. They are like unto 

 incorrigible shrews : there is no dealing with them but by 

 patience, though when they sting they are sure to have the 

 worst. For the wound endangereth neither life nor limb : 

 two nights' sleep will take away the swelling, and two min- 

 utes the pain, unless it be in very rheumatic bodies : of 

 which sort I have known some so swollen and disfigured 

 with that little stroke that you could scarce know them by 

 their favour in five or six days after.'' 



