BOOK XI. Lxii. 163-Lxin. 166 



The most accurate authorities write that this poison 

 is nothing else than the serpents' gall, and that veins 

 pass from the gall-bladder under the spine to the 

 mouth ; certain writers say that it is only one tooth, 

 and that as it is hooked it is sloped backward when it 

 has inflicted a bite ; some authorities state that it 

 then falls out and afterwards grows again, as it is 

 very easy to dislodge, and that the snakes that we 

 see handled "■ lack this tooth ; and that the scorpion 

 has this tooth in its tail — as according to most 

 authorities it has three. The vipers' teeth are 

 concealed in its gum. Their gum is charged with 

 the same poison, and when squeezed by the pressure 

 of the teeth pours out its venom into tihe bites 

 inflicted. No winged creature except the bat has Theteeth 

 teeth. The camel is the only animal without horns "L^^ 

 that has not got front teeth in the upper jaw. No 

 horned animal has serrated teeth. Even snails 

 have teeth ; this is proved by the fact that even the 

 smallest of theni gnaw vetches. But I wonder 

 what possible ground there is for the view that 

 among marine species shell-fish and cartilaginous 

 fish have front teeth, and also that sea-urchins have 

 five. Insects have stings instead of teeth. The 

 monkey has teeth Uke those of a human being. The 

 elephant has four inner teeth for masticating, and 

 besides these the prominent tusks that are bent 

 backward in the male and slope straight downward 

 in the female. The sea-mouse that swims in front 

 of the whale has no teeth, but instead of them its 

 mouth inside and also its tongue and palate are set 

 with bristles. Of land animals very small quadrupeds 

 have two extremely long front teeth in each jaw. 

 LXIII. All the other animals ai-e born with teeth,'' 



535 



