310 VENOMS 
above the membrane of the palate, which may contain + c.c. 
of venom, and three or four conical, curved teeth, with the convex 
surface in front, as in the fangs of snakes. The teeth are not 
pierced by a central canal, and the venom flows between them and 
the mucous membrane of the palate, which forms a sheath. The 
latter is withdrawn to the base of the teeth, while they are pene- 
trating the tissues. The teeth are mobile; they are articulated 
with the palatine bone, in which they are inserted in small depres- 
sions, and a resistant fibrous tissue serves as the means of union. 
RATE Pers 
re 
Fic. 120.—Murena moringa (Tropical Atlantic). (After Savtschenko.) 
They can be deflexed backwards against the mucous membrane of 
the palate; in this position the first, second and fourth tooth (when 
the latter exists) disappear completely between the folds of the 
membrane. The third tooth normally remains erect, and it is this 
by which wounds must in most cases be inflicted. None of these 
teeth can be protruded beyond the vertical. 
In addition to the palatine teeth there are, among the groups of 
maxillary teeth, several mobile teeth, which are connected with the 
poison-reservoir. 
Besides its toxic action the venom of Mwrena has manifest 
digestive properties, and, in the case of a fish which has been dead for 
some little time the gland is no longer to be found, since its walls 
have undergone a rapid autodigestion. 
