Tarantulas are found in parts of the United States and are frequently sold as pets. Tarantula bites usually do not cause significant envenomations but may cause local tissue swelling. Another hazard of tarantulas is that contact with the hairs of the back, which are released when the tarantula is distressed, can cause local skin reactions as well as a granulomatous reaction of the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye (ophthalmia nodosa) that requires urgent ophthalmologic attention. Dogs or cats that attempt to eat tarantulas may gag or vomit.

[…] we have no palate at all to relish heavenly food, minding rather to patch up our decaying carcases, which are daily veterascent and mouldring away, then the taking hold of any opportunity that may lead us to partake and tast of those immortal joyes […]

Body brown except: yellowish clypeus and inter-torular area; scapus and pedicellus yellow (17 th antennal article grey, 18 th -21 st articles white), propleuron and upper corner of mesopleuron, first metasomal tergite; mesoscutum, scutellum and propodeum suffused with yellow; wing membrane slightly infuscate; pterostigma brown (but rather pale at base and apex), veins mostly brown, legs yellow, ovipositor sheath brown and apically whitish.

The captain of the schooner is abaft with his glass in his hand, occasionally sweeping the offing in expectation of a vessel heaving in sight …