160 BLENNIOIDS. 



the jaw. Retzius(l) has disproved at some length this supposed 

 pecuUarity in the mode of attachment of the teeth to the jaw ; 

 he observes that, ' at a short distance from the line of attachment 

 of the teeth, there is a margin resembling an alveolar edge ;' 

 (it is clearly shown in PL 60, fig. 1, below the tuberculate teeth in 

 the right premandibular bone) : ' the portion of the jaw bone intervening 

 between this margin and the teeth consists of a peculiar porous osseous 

 substance, (2) and has on both sides small furrows corresponding with 

 the interstices of the teeth, and giving to the basilar substance the 

 appearance of being divided into as many processes as there are 

 teeth :' this appearance is still more increased by the small openings, 

 one at the end of each vertical furrow nearest the quasi- alveolar edge, 

 which openings lead, according to Retzius, to cavities containing the 

 germs of the successional teeth. 



The dentigerous or alveolar processes of the jaw-bone are still 

 more distinct at the anterior border of the premandibulars and 

 intermaxillary bones, but these are not more developed in the wolf- 

 fish than they are in the angler, the cod and other fishes with anchy- 

 losed teeth. The line of union of the tooth is situated at the summit 

 of these processes ; it is at this line that they are commonly detached ; 

 and not by a separation of the alveolar process from the rest of the jaw, 

 either by interstitial absorption, analogous to that which causes 

 the shedding of the antler of the deer, or by any other natural 

 process. 



In reference to the structure of the teeth of the wolf-fish Mr. 

 Andre rightly observes " that they are formed of a hard bony matter 

 not covered with enamel as in some animals," and Retzius confirms 

 this statement in reference to the fully developed and fixed teeth ; 

 but he states that in the germs of the teeth contained in the alveoli 

 of reserve there is a small portion of enamel, which in the conical 

 teeth constituted the summit, and in the tubercular ones formed a 

 white elevation, one third of a line in breadth, upon the centre of the 

 flattened grinding surface. " It is no wonder," says Retzius, " that a 

 fish which uses its teeth for bruising thick shells, as those of whelks, 



(1) Miiller's Archiv. 1837, p. 529. 



(2) I find it however not to differ in texture from the remaining peripheral dense part of 

 the jaw-bone, as shown in PI. 60, fig. 2. 



