DENTITION. 343 



mouth, might Inflict a very ugly wound, especially on a 

 feeble or frightened victim. 



A few rules may, however, safely be offered as 'without 

 exception,' and these I will point out in order to clear the 

 way a little towards a better comprehension of the exceptional 

 ones. 



All true snakes, poisonous or not, that have teeth at all, 

 have the six jaws described in the first chapter, viz. the 

 right and left upper jaw, the right and left lower jaw, and 

 the right and left palate jaw. The latter are called 'jaws,' 

 not anatomically, but merely as answering the same purpose, 

 being furnished with teeth ; each true jaw and the palate 

 being considered as two or a pair, on account of the 

 independent action imparted to each by the especial muscles 

 and the elastic tissue which unites them, where In the higher 

 animals they are consolidated. 



With but one exception (the egg-eating Oligodon or 

 Anodon family) all other true serpents, whether venomous or 

 not, possess the two rows of palate teeth. 



All can move or use each of the six jaws, or any two, 

 three, or more of them independently, as we observed in 

 feeding, some of the six holding the prey while others move 

 on. Some writers have conveyed the Idea that there is a 

 regular alternation and even rotation of the jaws in feeding, 

 No. I, 2, and so on in succession till all the six have moved, 

 and then No. i in its turn again ; but observation inclines me 

 rather to decide that there is no other rule than the feeder's 

 individual convenience, according to what its teeth may be 

 grasping, any more than there is in other creatures that 

 without reflection or intent, and not strictly in turn, eat now 



