DENTITION. 359 



the fang is found. In the larger fangs it may be readily 

 discerned with the naked eye : under a magnifying glass 

 it is distinguishable in all. It is distinct in the fangs of 

 the young Jararacas now before me, and extends nearly 

 half-way up the fang in these. 



The examples of fangs here given are all from nature, 

 and as near to the exact size as it is possible to be in 

 delineating objects of such exceeding fineness and delicacy. 

 Excepting the Xenodon's and the baby viper's, the others 

 belong to the CrotalidcE^ whose fangs are mostly dis- 

 tinguishable by a slight double curve or flange. The viperine 

 fang is a continuous curve (see f), but in the Crotalus the 

 point curves very slightly back again and downwards. 



For the Brazilian specimens, I am indebted to Dr. 

 Arthur Stradling, who presented me with the snakes, 

 out of whose jaws I myself procured them. In this 

 Lachesis there were two fangs visible on one side, and only 

 one on the other, viz. the functional pair, and one nearly 

 ready to replace one of these. In addition to the pair were 

 four reserve fangs hidden under the functional one on the 

 right side. I say * under,' because anatomically they were 

 beneath, though locally above when the snake was in its 

 natural position. All these five fangs I got from only one 

 side, and in addition some others too small to represent. 

 There may be yet more in the membranous capsule, as 

 mine was a sadly unscientific search for them, and without 

 any very powerful magnifier. Like Charas, I 'grovelled' 

 for them ! From a young Jararaca I also got out the func- 

 tional and four or five supplementary fangs from one side, 

 also an exceedingly small and short jaw-bone, leaving the 



