970 THE OSTEOLOGY AND MYOLOGY OF THE DEATH ADDER, 



the lachrymal gland quite small, while the labial glands have also 

 decreased, but that along with these changes we have a large 

 venom gland. Lastly in the Solenoglyphians we have a small 

 lachrymal, while the labial glands may even disappear, or be but 

 slightly represented, but that we have a very much larger venom 

 gland than is found in any of the other forms. 



What conclusions do these facts tend towards ? That since the 

 non-venomous snakes are so plentifully supplied with glands about 

 the mouth, whose function, it is generally conceded, is mainly that 

 of lubricating the prey, how does it come about that the venomous 

 snakes lubricate their prey, and yet have but slightly developed 

 labial, lingual, and lachrymal glands *? The answer will fall under 

 one of these heads. Firstly, that the glands are sufficient for the 

 purpose ; secondly, that there are mucous glands diffused through- 

 out the mouth; or thirdly, that the venom gland aids in the lubri- 

 cation. In answer to the first proposition, we maintain that the 

 glands are not sufficient for the purpose, for while moderately well 

 developed in some venomous forms, they are abortive or almost so 

 in others. To the second question, as to the presence of diffused 

 mucous glands, we are not aware that they have been described. 

 To the third question we now come with considerable diffidence. 

 We are fully aware how much has been written against the view 

 that the venom gland is a salivary gland in function, but we 

 nevertheless incline to the belief that, not only does the venom 

 serve to lubricate the prey, but that it even helps to digest it. 



It is not our intention to go into this subject in this paper, but 

 out of the many facts that we might urge in support of our view, 

 we will take a single one as the result of our own experiments. 



The experiment, we have since learnt, had been tried by Weir 

 IMitchell some years ago. He says : " The final influence of 

 venom upon the muscular structure was extremely curious. In 

 every instance it softened it in proportion to the length of the 

 time during which it remained in contact with it, so that after 

 even a few hours in warm-blooded animals, and after a rather 

 longer time in a frog, the wounded muscle became almost diffluent. 



