REMEDIES FOR THE STING OF A BEE. 
217 
wide, by two and a half feet long, will make a good fit 
for most persons. With such a hat, there is no danger 
from waspish bees, and its cape may be tucked under the 
coat, or so securely fastened, as to defy all assailants. 
The hands may be protected by india-rubber gloves, 
such as are now in common use. These gloves, while 
impenetrable to the sting of a bee, do not materially 
interfere with the operations of the Apiarian. As soon, 
however, as the bee-keeper 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. If the 
bands are wet with honey, they will seldom be stung. 
Woolen gloves are objectionable, as everything rough 
or hairy has an extremely irritating influence upon bees. 
This is probably owing to the fact that, in a state of 
nature, bears, foxes, and other hairy animals, are their 
principal enemies. No sooner do they feel the touch of 
anything rough or hairy, than they dart out their stings. 
Butler says: “ They use their stings against such things 
as have outwardly some offensive 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.” 
