Teeth of the Anarrhichas Lupus. 277 
external teeth ftand nearly upright; but the internal ones are 
placed obliquely, inclining towards each other. 
The teeth are formed of a hard bony matter, not covered 
with enamel as in fome animals; nor is- there an equal diftri- 
bution of enamel and bone as. in fome others,. They. are not 
fixed in fockets, but are faftened to the jaws in: the fame } man- 
ner as the efiphy/es are united to the bodies of the bones i in 
young animals. ” 
From the foregoing defcription it will appears et the ante- 
rior fharp teeth of the Sea-wolf are admirably. calculated for 
feizing its prey, while the pofterior grinding teeth ferve to 
break down the hard. thells of lobfters, crabs, mufcles, {col- 
lops, éc.. which this animal is known to feed upon. The ex- — 
ternal teeth on the fides of the upper and lower jaw being 
higher than thofe placed within them, a-hollow is formed 
above and below, in which the convex fthells of cruftaceous 
animals, éc.. are confined during their compreffion between 
the jaws, which is effected by the action of {trong mufcles - | 
placed on the fides of the head.. The jaws being made up of a 
number of. pieces, and.connected by loofe. ligaments, a freedom 
of motion is allowed, and the collifion or fhock arifing from 
the comminution of hard bodies is fo much the lefs by being — 
divided among a number of bones. 
Merret informs us *, the /apis bufonites are the flat grinder 
teeth of this fifh petrified: But certainly thefe foffils are not - 
the production of the Sea-wolf alone, fince they may onginate- 
from all thofe fifhes which have flat teeth in their palate or 
jaws; a ftructure which the French naturalifts diftinguifh by- 
the appellation of palais pave. 
* Pinax Rerum Naturalium Britannicarum, 
OF: 
