172 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 
1. 
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 
