192 HANDLING BEES. 



we fully agree with Mm. White veils are most especially 

 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. Ihese gloves, while 

 impenetrable to the sting of a bee, do not materially inter- 

 fere 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 

 swelhng, 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 ani- 

 mals, being made 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 outwardly 

 some oifehsive 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 bare 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 

 Italims (651), a few puffs of smoke, at the entrance, 



