20G HAXDLIXG BEES. 



s})eedily bring about tliem a swarm of infuriated enemies; 

 we sliould be no lon,i;er safe in our quiet rambles among 

 the green fields; and no jocund mower emld whet or swing 

 his peaceful scyfhe, unless c'ad in a dress impervious to their 

 stings. The bee, instead of bemg the friend of man, would, 

 like savage wild )iea?-ts, provoke his utmost efforts for ils 

 extermination. 



-too. Iluber has demonstrated that bees have an exceed- 

 ingly acute sense of smell and that unpleasant odors fjuiekly 

 excite their anger. 



Strong perfumes, however pleasant to us, are disagreeable 

 to them; and Arislntle nb.^eives. that they will sting tli^se 

 scented with them. We have known persons ignorant of this 

 fact to be se\-erely treated by bees. 



Some pei'si.ns, however cleanly, are e.s^aulted by bees as 

 soon as they apiiroaeh their hives. It is related of a 

 distinguished Ajiiai-ist that after a severe altaik of fever, he 

 was never able to be on good terms with his bees. That they 

 can ivadily jierceive the sli^hte^t differences in smell, is ap- 

 parent from the fact that any number of bees, fed from a 

 common vessel, will be gentle towards each other, while they 

 will assail the first strauue bee that alights on the feeder. 



P.ntler said, "Their smelling i> excellent, whereby, when 

 they fiy aloft into the air, they will quickly perceive anylliing 

 under them that they like, even though it be covered." They 

 lia\e, therefore, a sjiecial dislike to tho.se wlmse habits are 

 not neat, and M'ho bear about them a perfume not in the least 

 resembling 



' ' Sahraii (nlors 

 From the spirv shores of Araby the blest.'' 



A horse, when assailed by them, is often killed; as in- 

 stead of running away, like most other animals, it will plunge 

 and kick until' it falls overpowered. The apiary should be 

 fenced in, to prevent hoises and cattle from molesting Iho 

 hives. We have known of a horse, which happening to bo 



