OF THE GLANDS, 
47 
maxillary gland. In those serpents in which is founds 
besides the posterior teethj a long one in the middle of the 
jaws, the gland, at this point, has also a more considerable 
volume, in order to supply this large tooth with a more 
abundant liquor. In many other snakes, the maxillary 
glands extend under the rostral plate, and unite from both 
sides, but very often the rostral is divided from the maxil- 
laries. The maxillary and mandibular glands, ranged 
above the jaws, send into the mouth their secretions by 
small excretory ducts, opening in the gums at the base of 
the teeth. The duct of the large gland in serpents with 
posterior grooved teeth, is very visible, and corresponds 
exactly with the groove which conducts the saliva into the 
wound. Very often the maxillary gland is suspended by 
a tendinous band to the articulation of the lower jaw. 
Besides this complicated salivary apparatus, common to 
all serpents, we find in others a peculiar gland destined to 
secrete a liquid, which, when introduced into the animal 
frame, produces effects more or less deadly. This gland, 
called poisonous, because it is the characteristic of venom- 
ous snakes, is shut up in very dense tendinous covering, 
strong and firm to the touch, and ending posteriorly in a 
narrow slip, which attaches it to the articulation of the lower 
jaw. Anteriorly, this covering becomes narrow, and ends 
in a pretty wide duct, extending along the maxillary bone, 
and descending to terminate in the orifice situate on the 
anterior face of the base of the fang. In the real venom- 
ous snakes, this duct is in folds when the long fangs are 
recumbent, and has the capability of distension, and of ac- 
commodating itself easily to the movements of the maxillary 
bone. The interior of the venom-gland is divided into a 
great number of minute compartments or cells, produced 
by the meeting of their very thin walls at different angles."^ 
It is to this structure alone, totally different from that of 
the salivary glands, that the secretion of the fluid called 
poison is due, which has got its name from the deleterious 
effects it is capable of producing in the animal economy. 
It is true that the bite of the most harmless animals may 
^ See MiiLLER, De penitiori Glandularum Structura, 
