. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. / \ U-^4f. Fig. 11. SKULL OF RATTLESNAKE, FKUM ABOVE. (Alter Jan.) iig-. v:. SKCLL OF EATTLESNAKE, rilUE. (After Jan.) viper's faugs are as solidly fixed iu their sockets as are those of the Elaps, but while iu the latter (see fig. 3) the maxillary bones, into which the fangs are fastened, are elongated and horizontal, as in the harmless snakes (see fig. 4), in the Crotalids they are extremely shortened and higher than long, so as to
. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. / \ U-^4f. Fig. 11. SKULL OF RATTLESNAKE, FKUM ABOVE. (Alter Jan.) iig-. v:. SKCLL OF EATTLESNAKE, rilUE. (After Jan.) viper's faugs are as solidly fixed iu their sockets as are those of the Elaps, but while iu the latter (see fig. 3) the maxillary bones, into which the fangs are fastened, are elongated and horizontal, as in the harmless snakes (see fig. 4), in the Crotalids they are extremely shortened and higher than long, so as to appear iu a vertical position. In the former the fangs are consequently inserted nearly at right angles, like the pickax on its handle, Avhile in the latter the fang more nearly represents the blade, and the jawbone the handleof aknile, and it is the jawbone which is movable in the vertical i)lane, notthe fang alone. In order fully to understand the mechanism iu question, it is necessary to remember that the bones of the head of nearly all snakes (figs. 11-13) are so loosely joined together as to allow a most extraordinary amount of move- ment and distention. Elastic ligaments connect bones which in other animals are either grown solidly together or articulated by means of close joints, hence a snake is capable of swallowing a prey many times as thick as the snake's own body. As Jilready noted, the upper jawbones (maxillaries) are situated ver- tically, one on each side of the anterior portion of the mouth, the hollow fang being fastened into tlie lower end of the boue. On the outer face. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Smithsonian Institution. Board of Regents; United States National Museum. Report of the U. S. National Museum; Smithsonian Institution. Report of the Secretary. Washington : S
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