THE DEIRODON. 279 



For although generally agile in their movements, the deer, 

 rodents, lizards, or insects on which they feed, according to 

 their size, are frequently still more active, and thus they are 

 obliged to lie in wait and seize the favourable opportunity 

 for darting unawares upon their prey. This is frequently of a 

 more considerable volume than the body of its captor, and as 

 their small teeth are incapable of diminishing or masticating 

 their food, they would have been condemned to perish in the 

 midst of abundance had not their mouth been capable of enor- 

 mous distension. For this purpose the two sides of the lower 

 jaw do not coalesce like ours into one solid mass, but are only 

 loosely connected with each other, thus allowing each part to 

 be moved separately. The bones of the upper jaw and palate are 

 also loosely attached or articulated one with the other by liga- 

 ments, so as to allow the aperture of the mouth to be considerably 

 widened. 



By this mechanism, aided by the numerous sharp teeth which 

 are generally fixed both in the jaws and on the roof of the mouth, 

 and, having their points curved backwards, serve as so many 

 little hooks for seizing and holding their prey, each side of the 

 jaws and mouth, being able to act as it were independently of 

 the other, alternately hooks itself fast to the morsel or advances 

 to fasten itself farther on in a similar manner ; and thus the 

 reptile draws itself over its prey, somewhat in the same way as 

 we draw a stocking over our leg, after having first, by breaking 

 the bones, fashioned it into a convenient mass and rendered its 

 passage more easy by lubricating it with its saliva. Slowly the 

 huge lump disappears behind the widening jaws, descends lower 

 and lower beneath the scales, which seem ready to burst asunder 

 with distension, and then the satisfied monster coils himself up 

 once more to digest his meal in quiet. The time required for 

 this purpose varies of course according to the size of the morsel ; 

 but often weeks or even months will pass before a python rouses 

 himself from the lethargic repose in which he lies plunged 

 after a superabundant meal. 



While the venomous snakes are armed with formidable fangs, 

 and most other serpents are well furnished with teeth, those of 

 the genus Deirodon are so small as to be scarcely perceptible. An 

 acquaintance with the habits and food of this species has shown 

 how admirably the apparent defect is adapted to its wellbeing. 



