I adverted to this latter mode of robbing bees of their treasure in Chap. XIV. and there quoted the lamentation of Thomson at their fate. For this humane appeal, he has been thus apostrophized by Dr. Evans. "And thou, sweet Thomson, tremblingly alive To pity's call, hast mourn'd the slaughter'd hive, Cursing, with honest zeal, the coward hand, Which hid, in night's dark veil, the murd'rous brand, In steam sulphureous wrapt the peaceful dome, And bore the yellow spoil triumphant home." CHAPTER XXII. THE BEE-DRESS. The Storifying system, when conducted with proper precaution, in a bee-house, renders a bee-dress quite superfluous to the apiarian, as all his operations may be safely performed at all times and in all weathers, without one. They may be as securely performed, by the storifier in a simple shed, if the time of operating be either early or late in the day, when the bees are all at home and can be confined by shutting the slide of the floor board. Still, as timidity may foster a feeling of insecurity, and as the armour of a bee-dress may give confidence to an operator, I shall describe the dress that appears to me most suitable. In the first place the apiator should be armed with _a pair of thick cloth gloves_, made to tie over the sleeves of his coat. Secondly, his legs should be fortified by a _double pair of thick woollen or worsted stockings_, or some kind of _stout leggings_ as they are called. And thirdly, he should be provided with _a short dress of Scotch gauze or catgut_. This dress should be so formed as to tie round the crown of a hat having a shallow brim (about 2½ inches deep), should have short sleeves to tie round the arms, and descend low enough to tie round the body. _A woollen apron_ should also be worn, as high as the bottom of the catgut dress, otherwise, in the language of Mr. Keys, the prying little insects may find an opening of sufficient size to enable them to tickle the belly. "Women," says Mr. K. "should not meddle with bees, without a bee-dress, nor then without the addition of a man's coat, and I had almost said of breeches also."