92 POISONOUS SNAKES AND SNAKE POISONS. 



Of the other general characteristics of the snake, a few 

 words may be said as to the teeth and to the tongue. 

 Snakes have literally a whole mouthful of teeth, for 

 these are found not only on the upper and lower jaws, 

 but on nearly all the visceral bones ; they may, however, 

 be also entirely absent. Their teeth are usually pointed, 

 smooth, arched toward the throat, fitted only for seizing 

 and holding the prey, but not in any way for chewing or 

 dividing it. In the harmless snakes the teeth have the 

 form of solid cones which are arranged in rows round 

 the whole of the upper and lower jaws, a double row 

 existing on the palate as well. In the venomous snakes, 

 on the other hand, the ordinary teeth are usually want- 

 ing upon the upper jaws, and these bones are themselves 

 much reduced in size. In place of the ordinary teeth 

 the upper jaws carry the so-called poison fangs of which 

 more will be said as soon as we examine the poisoning 

 apparatus. 



The tongue in serpents is probably more an organ of 

 touch than of taste. It is long, wormlike, and consists 

 of two muscular cylinders, which are united toward their 

 bases. The organ thus formed has two long, very 

 slender, points ; it appears like a fork, and can be pro- 

 truded and retracted at will, as it runs in a kind of 

 sheath which by its secretion keeps it wet, slimy and 

 flexible. The tongue is very movable and in constant 

 vibration when protruded, the snake apparently feeling 

 its way and reconnoitring the surrounding territory. It 

 can even be pushed forward when the mouth is closed, 

 and appears also when the animal is in fear or in anger. 

 At all events this organ has no harmful qualities, though 

 people usually dread it as the frightful weapon with 

 which the snakes are said to inflict death. That this is 

 not the case we shall see presently. 



A few words only, before I speak of poisonous snakes 

 in particular, about the occurrence of snakes on the 



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