The Tarantulas 
*3 
to our northern ports in shipments of bananas and other tropical 
produce, and are the source of much alarm. It should be mentioned, 
however, that the large spider most frequently found under such cir¬ 
cumstances is not a tarantula at all, but one of the Heteropodidae, or 
giant crab-spiders, (fig. 8). 
In spite of their prominence and the fear which they arouse there 
are few accurate data regarding these American tarantulas. It has 
8. The giant crab-spider or banana spider (Heteropoda venatoria). 
Natural size. After Comstock. 
often been shown experimentally that they can kill small birds and 
mammals, though it is doubtful if these form the normal prey of any 
of the species, as has been claimed. There is no question but that 
the mere mechanical injury which they may inflict, and the consequent 
chances of secondary infection, justify, in part, their bad reputation. 
In addition to the injury from their bite, it is claimed that the body 
hairs of several of the South American species are readily detached 
and are urticating. 
Recently, Phisalix (1912) has made a study of the physiological 
effects of the venom of two Avicularoidea, Phormictopus carcerides 
Pocock, from Haiti and Cteniza sauvagei Rossi, from Corsica. The 
glands were removed aseptieally and ground up with fine, sterilized 
sand in distilled water. The resultant liquid was somewhat viscid, 
colorless, and feebly alkaline. Injected into sparrows and mice the 
