British Reptiles and Amphibians 



victim before eating it. So that it may do this 

 satisfactorily it is furnished with poison fangs. Fig. 2 

 indicates the position of these fangs, and shows that 

 there is a reserve fang to take the place of the one in 

 active use should it be broken. This provision is very 



FIG. 2. HEAD AND ANTERIOR PORTION OF THE BODY OF THE ADDER. 



G, Poison fang ; E, reserve fang. 

 (From Schmeil's "Text-Book of Zoology.") 



necessary because the fangs are so brittle that they are 

 liable to breakage. These fangs are not fixed like 

 teeth, but are in a manner hinged, so that they may lie 

 inside folds in the mouth and thus not be in the way 

 when food is being swallowed or when the mouth is 



