DENTITION. 



355 



tions, as will be seen on reference to the dotted examples 

 of upper jaws. The first have the six rows of simple teeth 

 (four above, as seen, and the lower jaw teeth), in all from 80 

 to 100 perhaps. The second have the two rows of palate 

 teeth, the lower jaw teeth, and a fixed fang on each upper 

 jaw, with one, two, or more simple teeth in addition. The 

 Australian poisonous serpents are nearly all of this group, 

 the only viperish-looking one, the 'Death adder,' having 

 fixed fangs like the cobras. The sea snakes and the Elapidce 

 are included. The third have only four rows of simple teeth, 

 viz. those of the lower jaws and those of the palate, with a 

 solitary moveable fang in each upper jaw. 





From Fayrer's Thanatophidia. The four larger dots represent fangs. 



Fayrer divides the poisonous snakes of India, again, into 

 four families, viz. Elapidcu and HydropJiidce, with fixed 

 fangs ; and Vipet'idcB and Crotalidce, with mobile fangs. 



But without so many perplexing distinctions, I hope 

 to be able to interest the reader in that wonderful piece 

 of mechanism, the poison fang, and by the aid of the 

 authorities to represent it in simple language. 



