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421 



to the lower jaw being attached to the upper by means of elastic 

 ligaments which permit of considerable distension. 



The teeth are used for holding and poisoning the victim in some 



tn 



i. Head of Lachesis, showing loreal pit {/. /.) ; k, head of Vipera bertis, 

 showing shields and scales ; /, skull of Crotalus, showing oblique maxilla and 

 long transpalatine ; m, skull of Python, showing inter alia absence of mandibulai 

 symphysis. 



instances but not for mastication. The victim is swallowed whole, even 

 though it be three times the diameter of the snake, the mouth parts are 

 drawn over it like a glove until the whole has disappeared. Deglu- 



27 



