ti 



FANGS OF SNAKES. 



Fig. 14. — I. The Upper 



Jaw of a South Afri- 

 can Python (Python 



seba) showing the 



double row of solid 



recurved teeth. 2. 



Side view of the skull 



of a Python (Python I 



sebct), showing the re- 



curved teeth. There 



is an outer and an inner row 



in the top jaw. These teeth 



are solid. The Python is 



non-venomous. The skull 



is that of a nine-foot Python. 



3. Lower jaw of a Python 



(Python seba) showing the 



recurved teeth. 4. Dissected 



head of a Pufi Adder (Bitis 

 arietans) showing the active 

 pair of poison fangs, the 

 duct, and the poison gland 

 which lies beneath, and „ «a.jj 



behind the eye. 5. The erect fangs of a Putt Adder. 

 These are raised to the proper angle for stnking. 

 When the mouth is closed the fangs are depressed 

 and lie along the jawbone. 6. The fangs of a Putt 

 Adder showing the protecting membraneous sheath. 

 When at rest the fangs are enveloped in this sheath. 

 7. Head and fangs of the Cape Cobra (Naia flaya). 

 They are small, sharp, and grooved. 8. The poison 

 gland, duct and fang of a Pu2 Adder. 9. Ihe 

 anterior maxillary bone of a Puff Adder dissected 

 out, showing the duplicate sets of fangs attached. 

 There is this number on each side of the upper ]aw. 

 10. Skull of a Puff Adder showing the active pair 

 of fangs, and the next pair .which would work for- 

 ward and take the place of the former if they were 

 drawn, or otherwise lost. 11. Head of Mamba 



\., 4 5 « 



(Dendraspis angusticeps) 

 showing the fangs, duct 

 and poison gland. The 

 fangsare deeply grooved, 

 and exceedingly sharp. 

 12. Head of a Boom- 

 slang or Tree Snake 

 (Dispkolidus typus) 



showing fangs and 

 poison gland. The 

 gland is set close to the 

 root of the fangs. There 

 is no long duct. 13. Skull 

 of a typical harmless snake 

 showing the rows of solid 

 teeth. 14. The bifid tongue 

 of a snake. 

 No. 5 is a type of the Protero- 

 glypha, or front-fanged 

 snakes. These are all 

 venomous. 

 No. 12 is a type of an Opistho- 

 glypha, or back - fanged 

 snake. The snakes of this 

 division are in the transition 

 staee of fang development. They are more or less 

 venomous No. 13 is a type, of the A glyph a or 

 ^olid-Toothed snakes. This division of snakes are all 



on the opposite side of the jaw. 



23 



