10 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
of the creatures with which we have to deal. Veils 
of wire cloth are obtainable of all hive-dealers ; these 
are transparent, but are cumbrous and awkward, while 
the idea that they are safer, because their stiffness 
holds them at a distance from the face, is quite illu- 
sory. They are sometimes moulded into masks, with 
an opening for the pipe, and a draw-door to permit 
of expectoration ; but, as a non-smoker, I have no 
need of, and have had no experience with, such con- 
Fig. 1.— Bee Veils. 
A, Bee Veil as placed on Hat. B, Silk Net Bee Veil as worn by Lady Operator. 
veniences, beyond knowing that these wire masks 
are almost always discarded after a time for the 
more simple, portable, and withal convenient, con- 
trivance. I prefer immensely, and generally carry 
in my pocket, a bee veil made of fine black silk 
net, which is not, in the end, expensive, as it is 
remarkably durable, and occupies very little room, 
since it can easily be hidden in the closed hand ; 
A 
B 
