19t? 
On the Teeth and. Poison 
serted along- the upper margin of the gland ; whilst the pos¬ 
terior fibres, describing a considerable circuit, sweep round 
the gland behind, to become inserted into its posterior surface 
or base. When all these fibres therefore act in unison they 
must necessarily press the gland from behind forwards, and 
thus force its contents into the duct, to be thence conveyed 
to the tubulated fang—the “ compressor” or “ ejaculator” of 
the gland would therefore be an appropriate name for the 
muscle. 
This apparatus is very different from that described by M. 
Edwards as found in the rattlesnake, where he makes no 
mention of any special compressor of the gland, but says the 
muscles of the lower jaw perform this duty when thrown 
into a state of contraction. Grant, in referring to the same 
snake, observes that a “ portion of the temporal muscle ex¬ 
tending forwards like a buccinator embraces the posterior 
portion of the poison gland,” but again no mention is made 
of a special compressor inserted into the gland itself. From 
the extreme beauty and simplicity however of the arrange¬ 
ment as found in the snakes of this colony, I can scarcely 
think a nearer approach to it would not be found, on a care¬ 
ful dissection of the rattle and other venomous snakes. 
One other muscle yet remains, worthy, from its connexion, 
of a slight consideration. On raising up the posterior end 
of the gland a small muscle is observed attached, partly to its 
fibrous covering, and partly to its compressor; from these 
attachments it descends, spreading considerably, and goes to 
be inserted along the outer margin of the lower jaw, which 
lies immediately underneath. This is the most anterior 
muscle on the jaw, and from its position is evidently the 
analogue of the buccinator in man. From its fixed attach¬ 
ment to the lower jaw below and to the compressor above, 
it must when thrown into violent action, as for instance in the 
act of biting, communicate a considerable stimulus to the 
latter muscle—may not this indeed act as a true excito-motor 
