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AUSTRALASIAN 



breathing into the hive or upon the bees ; 3rd, to avoid making 

 any quick movements about the hive ; 4th, to be careful not to 

 stand in the line of flight to the hive ; 5th, let all manipula- 

 tion, as far as possible, be conducted during fine weather and 

 while the bees are flying ; 6th, the operator should act in a 

 fearless but gentle manner ; and 7th, never strike at a bee, but 

 when one gives warning of stinging bow the head slightly, if 

 unprotected with a veil, and walk slowly away. 



Bees are more irritable during cloudy or showery weather, 

 owing, perhaps, as it is said, to the peculiar electrical condi- 

 tions of the atmosphere. Queenless colonies are more easily 

 provoked to anger than when in their normal condition. So 

 marked is this as a rule that I can often detect them on first 

 opening the hives. The scent of the poison from their stings 

 will excite bees, and the crushing of one while manipulating 

 will usually make the rest very angry. For the protection of 

 the face the manipulator can wear a 



BEE- VEIL. 



This should be made of some light material, such as leno or 

 tarlatan, long enough to hang from the brim of a hat to the 



Fig. 85,— WTRE-CXOTH BEE-VEIL. 



Fig. 86.— TARLATAN BEE-VEIL. 



lower part of the chest, when there will be ample to tuck under 

 the collar of the vest or coat (Fig. 86). A piece of strong 



