. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . and on the same side. This last cleft is like a little trench or finefurrow, which extends the whole length of its convexity. Thesehooked teeth are surrounded by a fold of the gums, which receives * In the Hifrhlands of Scotland I have twice observed this.—Ed. 88 REPTILES AND BIRDS. and partly hides them, Hke a sheath, when they are at are attached to the upper maxillary bones, which are smalland very mobile, and are put in motion by two muscles. Be
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . and on the same side. This last cleft is like a little trench or finefurrow, which extends the whole length of its convexity. Thesehooked teeth are surrounded by a fold of the gums, which receives * In the Hifrhlands of Scotland I have twice observed this.—Ed. 88 REPTILES AND BIRDS. and partly hides them, Hke a sheath, when they are at are attached to the upper maxillary bones, which are smalland very mobile, and are put in motion by two muscles. Behindthem are dental germs, intended to replace them when they fall other teeth in the roof of the mouth belong to the palate, wherethey form two rows. Such are the terrible weapons of the Viper group. It is not,therefore, as many persons still believe, with the tongue that theAdder inflicts its wound; the forked, projecting tongue serves themas a feeler, and to drink with, but cannot inflict a wound. Wehave said that when in a state of repose the hooked teeth arehidden; when the animal wishes to use them, they issue from. FIS- 23.—Fangs and tongue of an Adder. their fleshy sheath, somewhat in the same manner as the claws ofa cat when about to be used as weapons of offence. Adders use their fangs to seize the small animals which serveas their prey. They do not voluntarily attack a man. But if heimprudently places his foot on or attempts to seize them, they willdefend themselves vigorously. Let us note how this reptile takes itsprey. In this case it may be supposed to act without passion, merelyobtaining food, when it simply seizes, sinking its fangs into the bodyof its victim. In proportion as these penetrate the body of theanimal the poison flows into the canal, which again conducts it tothe fangs under the influence of the contracting muscles, by whichthey are raised and made to press upon the gland; causing thevenom to be injected into the wound. Adders bite in th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles, bookyear1
