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and even on the palate and in the back part ol the fauces, are the 
next subjects for our examination. These have been long known in 
their mineralized state ; and some of them, for their imaginary 
virtues, have been held in very high estimation. These are the fossils 
generally known as Bufonites , and are also called Serpents eyes, 
Bcitrachites, and Crapaudines, from the notion of their having been 
formed in the heads of serpents, toads, or frogs ; and, on account 
of their assumed virtues, were preserved, and set in rings and other 
ornamental articles. A large specimen of this kind is represented 
Plate XIX. Fig. 6. 
Their real origin has, however, been long ascertained. They are 
the rounded grinders of the jaw and palate of fishes of the genus 
Anarhicas, and chiefly, perhaps, of the Anarhicas lupus. In this 
fish there are six and more sharp and conical fore-teeth in each jaw ; 
and behind these, in the lower jaw and in the palate, are disposed the 
round molares, or bufonites. With these weapons they are able to 
crush the crustaceous or testaceous coverings of different marine 
animals, and thus obtain their prey. It is even said they will gnaw, 
and leave the marks of their teeth on the anchors of ships. From the 
considerable size of these bodies, in the teeth of recent fish, ic does not 
appear that the size of the fishes, in the jaws of which the bufonites, or 
fossil teeth, had been formed, had vastly exceeded that of the wolf-fish 
of the present day. In part of a recent jaw before me, these molai 
teeth are of a very large size in proportion to the bones of the jaw . 
It is extremely probable, that some of the smaller bufonites are the 
molar teeth of the genus Spams ; and particularly S. sargus, S. 
dentex, and S. aurata, or Gilthead, similar teeth existing in the jaws 
of these fishes. In the recent jaws and palates of these fishes, 
secondary teeth of this kind may be seen concealed in the cancellous 
part of the bone, ready to be propelled, as any of those already in 
use are broken away. Plate XIX. Fig. f is an interesting specimen, 
displaying three rows of moderate-sized bufonitae, imbedded in their 
