Apparatus of Snakes. 
191 
nal aspect. Posteriorly, the lower jaw articulates loosely 
with a long bone, (tympanic element of the temporal;) 
this again is similarity connected with another and shorter 
one (squamous portion of the temporal,) which is itself at¬ 
tached to the solid structure of the skull, not by an osseous, 
but merely a Igamentous union. 
Between the lower jaw, therefore, and the skull we do not 
find, as in man and the higher animals, a single joint straight¬ 
ened and confined in its movements, but here we have on the 
contrary a whole series of articulations, consisting of no less 
than three in number, and of which, two possess in them¬ 
selves very extensive and independent motions. The disposi¬ 
tion of the jaw both posteriorly and in front, will thus 
furnish a ready, explanation of the enormous dilatation of 
which the mouth and fauces are capable ; and, at the same 
time, when taken in connexion with the character of the 
teeth, affords an admirable illustration of that system of 
adaptation and harmonious disposition of parts to one 
common end, of which the field of Natural History is so rich 
in examples. The teeth, for instance, which we have already 
considered, as also those which we have yet tojsee, are not of 
a form calculated for cutting, grinding, or tearing their food ; 
this therefore, as it cannot be reduced in bulk, must be 
swallowed entire, and for the easy accomplishment of this 
process no disposition of parts could be more perfectly 
adapted, than that of the loose chain of bones which we 
have seen forming the entrance of the fauces, and of being 
capable of dilatation to almost any extent. 
2nd. The bones and teeth of the palate. On the roof of 
the mouth the teeth are attached, in single rows, to two lone 
o 
bones (palate), which we observe on either side of the mid¬ 
dle line; and also to two shorter ones (superior maxillary) 
which lie external to these, but attached to them by their 
posterior extremity. These bones are not fixed to the skull, 
but are free and moveable on the surrounding tissues ; neither 
