204 COMMON WOLF FISH. Class IV. 



makes the number in the upper jaw seventeen 

 or eighteen, in the lower eleven or twelve ; the 

 sides of the under jaw are convex inwards, 

 which greatly adds to their strength, and at the 

 same time allows room for the large muscles 

 with which the head of this fish is furnished ; 

 the denies molares, or grinding teeth of the 

 under jaw, are higher on the outer than the 

 inner edges, which incline their surfaces in- 

 ward; they join to the canine teeth in that 

 jaw, but in the upper are separate from them ; 

 in the centre are two rows of flat strong teeth, 

 fixed on an oblong basis upon the bones of the 

 palate and nose. These and the other grinding 

 teeth are often found fossil, and in that state 

 Bufonites. called Biifonites, or Toad-stones: they were 

 formerly much esteemed for their imaginary 

 virtues, and were set in gold, and worn as rings. 

 The two bones that form the under jaw are 

 united before by a loose cartilage, which me- 

 chanism admitting of a motion from side to 

 side, most evidently contributes to the design of 

 the whole, viz. a facility of breaking, grinding, 

 and comminuting its testaceous and crusta- 

 ceous food. At the entrance of the gullet, 

 above and below, are two echinated bones ; 

 these are very small, being the less necessary, 

 as the food is in a great measure comminuted 



