37S MEMOIR on AMPHIBIA. 



Seventh Observation. — The above obfervations led 

 me to another fad which I was not looking for, which 

 feems to me to explain the prodigious quantity of venom- 

 ous matter of which I fpoke in my firft remarks. Beneath 

 each fang, and towards the middle of the lower jaw, I 

 find a bladder which has a communication with the root 

 of the tooth. This bladder appears to be a refervoir of 

 the poifon, whence it is tranfmitted to the lower part of 

 the tooth, in proportion as the animal pours it forth in the 

 adl of biting any objeft. Vid. Fig. 4. 



Eighth Observation. — I do not offer this laft ob- 

 fervation as a new one. I am fenfible that all the natural- 

 ifts who have defcribed the fangs of rattlefnakes and 

 vipers, (for they have both the fame conformation) have 

 been perfectly acquainted with this fpecies of tooth ; but 

 the defcription they give of it is fo inaccurate, that I think 

 myfelf obliged to rectify them. All the defcriptions lead 

 one to believe, that thefe teeth are hollow at the bale, in 

 their upper part, and at the extremity. They are in fa£l 

 pierced at their bafe, and this opening communicates with, 

 or rather is included in the bladder which contains the 

 poifon ; but the liole which correfponds to this is always 

 one or two lines, according to the fize of the tooth below 

 the point. It is as it were cut obliquely. The interior 

 part of the tooth forms a fpecies of channel which is 

 prolonged on the outfide from the fecond opening till near 

 the extremity, as may be feen in Fig. 6. which rcprefents 

 a tooth through which a briftle has been pafled. 



I fhall allow myfelf no refledions on thefe obfei"vations ; 

 but I think I have fufficiently demonflrated that we have 

 almoft every thing yet to learn relating to thefe extraordi- 

 nary reptiles. Time, with repeated and multiplied obfer- 

 vations, can alone afford us the information requifite to 

 form a folid judgment on this fubjed : and I am perfuaded 

 we Ihall arrive at the proof, that the pretended effeds of 



enchantment. 



