SERPENTS. 



147 



SKULL OF SNAKE. 



but is suspended at the end of a long slender 

 bone, which is attached to the hinder-part of the 

 skull by muscles and 

 ligaments so as to be 

 very moveable. It will 

 be readily seen how 

 this contrivance per- 

 mits a very wide ex- 

 pansion of the poste- 

 rior part of the lower 

 jaw, which is attained 

 in a less degree in front by the nature of the 

 union of the two branches, they not being sol- 

 dered together there as usual, but simply tied by 

 ligaments. Other bones of the skull have a 

 correspondent freedom. 



Both pairs of jaws, for the most part, are set 

 with numerous slender acute teeth, having a 

 double curve, and pointing backwards : the bones 

 of the palate also are furnished with similar teeth, 

 so that there are four nearly equal rows of teeth 

 in the upper part of the mouth, and two in the 

 lower. The mode of swallowing prey is as 

 follows : — Some of the front teeth being struck 

 into the victim, one side of the Ibwer jaw is 

 thrust forward as far as the ligaments will allow, 

 when the teeth of that side take a fresh hold, 

 which is retained, while the other side of the jaw 

 performs a corresponding movement ; thus by the 

 alternate advance of the two sides of the jaw, 

 which their excessive mobility admits, and by 

 the backward inclination of the teeth allowing the 

 food to move much more readily in one direction 

 than another, this is gradually drawn into the 

 throat, forcing asunder, and dislocating, as it 



