218 CiECILIA. 



system, of this disposition of teeth, which was so common in the 

 class of fishes. 



There are twenty teeth in the anterior or outer premandibular 

 row in the lumbricoid and white-bellied Caeciliee, and ten or twelve, 

 of much smaller size, in the second row. There are twenty teeth in 

 the outer row of the upper jaw, of which six are supported by 

 the mtermaxillaries ; and sixteen in the inner or palatine row. All 

 these teeth are long, slender, acute and slightly recurved. 



In the rostrated Csecilia the first two teeth of the maxillary 

 and premandibular series are longer and stronger than the rest; 

 they are succeeded by small and recurved teeth ; the median margins 

 of the palatal bones are bristled with small teeth ; the second row 

 in the lower jaw is represented by two small recurved teeth on the 

 internal border of the premandibular bones. In the modification of 

 the dental system presented by this species may be perceived a 

 retention of the Batrachian type. 



The annulated Csecilia {Siphonops annulatus, d. &b.) has the maxillary 

 and palatine teeth strong, pointed and shghtly recurved. In the 

 glutinous and two-banded Csecilise, (Epicrium), the teeth are slender, 

 acute and more inclined backwards, thus approaching nearer to the 

 Ophidian type ; in the latter species, {Epicrium bivittatum), the palatal 

 series, instead of ranging concentrically with the outer row, is chevron- 

 shaped with the angle turned forwards and rounded off. 



The teeth of the Csecilise are sub-transparent ; their intimate 

 structure corresponds with that of the frog's tooth ; but their mode of 

 implantation resembles that of the teeth of the Labyrinthodonts, the 

 base being anchylosed to the parietes of a shallow alveolus. 



