FANGS OF SERPENTS. 



165 



apertures (a and b) above mentioned. This 

 mode of formation of the tube is farther illus- 

 trated by Fig. 286, which shows a transverse 



section of the same tooth, exjiibiting the cavity 

 (p) which contains the pulp of the tooth, and 

 which surrounds that of the central tube in the 

 form of a crescent. Figures 287 and 288 are 

 delineations of the same tooth in different stages 

 of growth, the bases of which, respectively, are 

 shown in Figures 289 and 290. Figures 291 

 and 292 are magnified representations of sections 

 of the fangs of another species of serpent, resem- 

 bling the rattle-snake. Fig. 291 is a section of 

 the young fang taken about the middle : in this 

 stage of growth, the cavity which contains the 

 pulp, almost entirely surrounds the poison tube, 

 and the edges of the depression, which form the 

 suture, are seen to be angular, and present so 

 large a surface to each other, that the suture is 

 completely filled up, even in this early stage of 



