SNAKES' PREY. 97 



not see how it could be otherwise, for the supply of 

 this noxious fluid is stored at the root of the fangs, 

 and requires but the slightest pressure to force it 

 through the orifices in the canine teeth into what- 

 ever they lay hold of. 



This puff-adder, which I killed just as it was 

 about to commence its meal, was almost four feet 

 long, and quite as thick round the centre of the 

 body as the upper part of my arm. I did not, on this 

 occasion, as the reader will observe, wait to see the 

 serpent swallow its prey, for I had so often been a 

 witness of that process that I did not consider a 

 renewed exhibition of the disgusting sight worthy of 

 the loss of time. However, I will describe how the 

 operation is performed, for the benefit of those who 

 have not had the opportunities of witnessing these 

 details of animal life which have been afforded me. 

 The apex of the jaws of all snakes possesses a kind of 

 cartilaginous hinge, enabling each side to act, to a cer- 

 tain extent, independently of the other ; the termina- 

 tions of the teeth, which all point inwards towards the 

 throat, are thus enabled in rotation to take a further 

 grip of the prey, which being constantly repeated, 

 ultimately passes the victim through the mouth into 

 the throat, in the end, to be sucked into the body 

 by muscular action. This process is pleasanter to 

 describe than to witness ; at least, in my opinion. 

 That all do not think alike on this point can easily be 

 ilearned by paying a visit to the reptile-house at the 



H 



