3^ m 



t -mm 



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 

 seba), 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 Puff Adder (Bitis 

 arielans) showing the active 

 pair of poison fangs, the 

 duct, and the poison gland 

 which lies beneath, and 

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

 These are raised to the proper angle for striking. 

 When the mouth is closed the fangs are depressed 

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

 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 fiaya). 

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

 gland, duct and fang of a Puff Adder. 9. The 

 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 jaw. 

 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 



VV^ 



(Dendraspis angusticeps) 

 showing the fangs, duct 

 and poison gland. The 

 fangs are deeply grooved, 

 and exceedingly sharp. 

 12. Head of a Boom- 

 slang or Tree Snake 

 (Dispholidus 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. r2 is a type of an Opistho- 

 glypha, or back - fanged 

 snake. The snakes of this 

 division are in the transition 

 stage of fang development. They are more or less 

 venomous. No. 13 is a type of the Aglypha or 

 sohd-toothed snakes. This division of snakes are all 

 quite non-venomous. 

 4B. I. Fang of a Puff Adder. 2. Fang of a Cape 

 Cobra. 3. Fang of a Ringhals or Spitting Snake 

 (Sepedon hemachtztes). 4- Fang of a Boomslang. 

 5. Fang of a Herald or Red-lipped Snake (Leptodira 

 hotambceia), 6. of a Schaapsteker (Trimerorhtnus 

 rhombeatus). 

 40. A set of Puff Adder Fangs showmg the front 

 active fang, and the duplicates. They are in various 

 stages of development. These were dissected from 

 one side of the jaw. A simOar number are found 

 on the opposite side of the jaw. 



23 



