APPLIANCES. 



37 



upon empty combs — to feed them very quickly, a different feeder 

 is used. It is a wood box 



i^iy 



1 1 



Secfional View of Fast Feeder. 



with a lid. The box should 



be coated with wax (cheap 



paraffin wax will do) ; the 



diagram will fully explain 



its construction. The bees, 



upon the box being placed 



over a hole in the quilt, 



pass up in the direction of 



the arrows, and obtain the 



syrup as quickly as they 



deem fit ; they are prevented from getting into the box, and 



so drowning, by the cover (c, c). 



60. Veils. — It is advisable for all bee-keepers to wear veils, 

 not only on account of the unpleasantness of being stung in a 

 tender part of the face, but also to prevent the bees crawling 

 over it while both hands are engaged ; the titillation produced by 

 this will often cause a sudden movement to be made, which 

 irritates the bees. We have sometimes had them persist in 

 crawling backwards and forwards over the eyes ; this is not at 

 all conducive to a calm demeanour in manipulating, which is a 

 sine gud non. The best veils are those with wire fronts, as this 

 prevents the veil being blown against the face — a bee usually 

 chooses this place to sting. For ordinary use, a veil made of 

 black net, with a band of elastic run in at one end, by which it 

 is fitted round the crown of a hat, will be found sufficient. The 

 loose end should be carefully tucked inside the collar of the 

 coat, to prevent the bees getting inside. All veils, whether they 

 be wire or net, should be black, as the light being reflected 

 from white net prevents a clear vision. 



61. Gloves. — These should never be worn, but the wrists of 

 the coat should be fastened with an indiarubber band, to prevent 

 the bees exploring up them, which they are sure to do. Where 

 gloves are worn, two pairs of wool, wetted, having gauntlets on 

 the outside pair, will be found very effectual; kid or single 

 leather gloves are of no use. A glove has been manufactured of 

 lambskin, the fleece being left on. This very effectually prevents 

 the stings puncturing the leather; but all are a nuisance, on 

 account of the clumsiness it occasions when manipulating, and 

 so irritation of the bees. The best gloves are those made of 

 indiarubber, although rather expensive and very perishable. They 

 are made of a sort of macintosh material, although we have 

 seen some made from pure rubber. American cloth has been 

 used for making bee-gloves ; but as we have heard little of them, 

 they no doubt do not answer. 



