44 Mr Taylor on the Respiratory Organs and Air-bladder 



magum, and also by a single tubercle of the body of the ver- 

 tebra, as in the osseous fishes. The bones entering into the 

 formation of the mouth resemble those of fishes. The supe- 

 rior maxillary one is long, slender, and of a curved figure, 

 having its convex side presented outwards : it is joined above 

 to the malar bone, and below to the coronoid process of the 

 lower jaw. The latter consists of two strong pieces slightly 

 incurvated, and firmly United at their symphysis by cartilage : 

 each piece being formed by two bones closely wedged together. 

 Both jaws are furnished with teeth, the largest being planted 

 in the palatine arches above ; they are fixed in alveolar cavi- 

 ties, are sharp pointed, and of a hook form, but do not possess 

 any structure resembling the tubular fangs of serpents, to con- 

 firm the opinion entertained by the natives, of the venomous 

 nature of the bite of the animal. The branchial arches are 

 situate behind the head, at the sides of the four anterior cer- 

 vical vertebrae, and possess a semicartilaginous structure, ex- 

 hibiting, when held up to the light, several detached osseous 

 pieces, of an irregular figure, imbedded in a semitransparent 

 substance. With the exception of the first or anterior arch, 

 which is fixed to the end of the cornu of the os hyoides, all 

 the others are articulated below to their fellows of the opposite 

 side. The first and second are composed, each of one portion, 

 and are free at their superior or vertebral extremities, pi-esent- 

 ing the appearance of being suspended in the membrane of the 

 pharynx; while the third and fourth, or two posterior ones, 

 have very minute superior limbs, which are attached to a 

 small pharyngeal bone, connected through the medium of a 

 lono- and flat muscle, running between the membrane of the 

 back part of the mouth and the inferior surface of the verte- 

 bra?, with the base of the cranium. All the arches are smooth 

 on their internal surface. The bones corresponding to the 

 scapulae, or those which in fishes support the pectoral fins, are 

 long, slightly curved, and united by cartilage at their inferior 

 extremities. 



Connected with deglutition, and situate below each of the 

 latter, is a small bone, which, together with the pharyngeal 

 bones, is covered on the side next to the gullet, with small 

 teeth. The body of each vertebra is hollowed out posterior- 



