THE TEETH OF REPTILES. 257 



the jaws, where they are very formidable in size and sharp- 

 ness. The individual teeth are generally conical, sharply 

 pointed, and often a little compressed from side to side, so 

 as to possess sharp edges ; but they vary much in form in 

 different species. 



The teeth are lodged in distinct tubular alveolar cavities, 

 to the walls of which they do not become anchylosed, and 

 they are tolerably constant in number in the same species. 



In parts of the mouth certain teeth are developed to a 

 greater length than those nearest to them ; thus, in the 

 Crocodile proper, the first and fourth lower teeth are spe- 



FlG. 110 (). 



cially large, while in the extinct African Galesaurus the 

 difference is so marked that both in the upper and lower 



( J ) Transverse section of the lower jaw of a young Alligator, a. Oral 

 epithelium. 6. Bone of socket, d. Dentine of old tooth. 2. Tooth next 

 in order of succession, which is causing absorption of one side of the base 

 of the older tooth. 3. Young tooth germ. 



