FANGS OF SERPENTS. 



165 



apertures (a and b) above mentioned. This 

 mode of formation of the tube is farther illus- 

 trated by Fig. 280, which shows a transverse 



section of the same tooth, exhibiting 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 



