q% Dr. Gray’s Objerysaitons on the Clap of 
reafon why there is always a certain number of fmall fangs, 
near the bafe of the full grown ones, ready to enlarge and 
take their place, if they fhould be, by any accident, tom 
out. 
LiNNiEus feems aKo to have thought that the fangs might be 
known by their fituation. In the Introduction. to the clafs Am- 
phibia in the Syflema Naturae, he fays they are, 44 Dentibus 
44 fimi Him a fed extra maxi l l a m fuperiorem collocata and in the 
defcription of the Crotalus Dryinas, in the Amoenitates Aca- 
demics, be fays, 44 Dentes ejus duo canini uti in reliquis vene- 
44 naiis Serpentibus non in maxillis hrerent , Us enim vulnerando , 
u non autem iff us infiigendo utiturd * 
■Thefe two quotations fhew, that Linkjeus thought the 
fituation of the fangs different from that of the common 
teeth ; the lafl: alfo (hews that he thought their mode of action 
influenced by it. What difference in fituation may be found by 
accurate diffedtion, it is foreign from my prefent purpofe to 
enquire ; I am, however, very certain that common examina- 
tion * will not difcover any difference, in that relpedt, between 
the fangs of venomous Serpents, and the teeth of others. 
But the moft fingular opinion of Linnasus, refpedting the 
venomous fangs, was, that they were fometimes fixed in the 
bafe of the jaw. Of this he has given two inftances in the 
Mufeum Regis. One in the defcription of the Coluber feverus, 
of which he fays, 44 Haft re mobiles folitarire verfus bafm maxiU 
44 l arum interim adherent The other in that of the Coluber 
ftolaius. His words there are, 44 fela mobilia ad bajin maxil~ 
* By common examination I mean fuch as may be made without differing, or 
otherwife damaging, the fpecimen to be examined ; and fuch only do I fuppofe 
allowable in the diltmcuon I am feeking to .eftablilh* 
I 
“ larum 
