LOPHIOIDS. 153 



These latter, which may be termed the serial teeth, are from fifteen 

 to eighteen in number, short, strong, pointed and incm'ved ; of nearly 

 equal size and placed at regular distances from each other. (1) The 

 two outer irregular rows of the median intermaxillary teeth are 

 somewhat larger and are directed forwards ; the inner rows at this 

 part contain the longest teeth and their points are turned back ; but 

 they are moveably connected with the bone by a mechanism which 

 will be described when treating of those of the lower jaw. 



The premandibular teeth can hardly be said to form a regular 

 series, but are scattered along the alveolar margin of the lower jaw 

 in an irregular quincuncial disposition ; being three, four, and five 

 deep towards the middle and anterior part of the lower jaw, in full 

 grown specimens. The largest teeth in the mouth of the Lophius 

 are the innermost and median ones of the premandibular bones ; they 

 decrease in size as they are situated more laterally. The transverse 

 section of the body of these laniariform teeth is nearly circular, but 

 at their broad and expanded base it is triangular with one of the angles 

 directed outwards. The palatine teeth form a single row, near the 

 outer edge of the bones, the median ones being the largest ; the 

 cluster of two or three teeth on each side of the expanded anterior 

 extremity of the vomer seem to terminate the palatine series. 



The superior pharyngeal teeth are arranged in three groups upon 

 as many separate bones on each side ; each group describes a curve 

 with the convexity turned forwards ; the teeth of the posterior bone 

 are the smallest. The inferior pharyngeal bones are two in number, 

 and have the teeth arranged in a double alternate row along each 

 margin. 



The pharyngeal, palatine, and vomerine teeth are fixed by an- 

 chylosis to their respective bones ; this is also the case with most of 

 the intermaxillary teeth, and with the exterior teeth of the lower jaw ; 

 but the remainder, and especially the large posterior fangs of the 

 lower jaw, are attached by means of elastic ligaments to the margins 

 of slightly elevated alveolar processes. These ligaments are prin- 



(1) In the Lophius Upsicephalus the corresponding serial intermaxillary teeth are described 

 as being short, delicate and cylindrical, by Dr. A. Smith in his excellent " Zoology of South 

 Africa." 



