Page:Natural History, Reptiles.djvu/155

Rh but is suspended at the end of a long slender bone, which is attached to the hinder-part of the skull by muscles and ligaments so as to be very moveable. It will be readily seen how this contrivance permits a very wide expansion of the posterior part of the lower jaw, which is attained in a less degree in front by the nature of the union of the two branches, they not being soldered together there as usual, but simply tied by ligaments. Other bones of the skull have a correspondent freedom.

Both pairs of jaws, for the most part, are set with numerous slender acute teeth, having a double curve, and pointing backwards: the bones of the palate also are furnished with similar teeth, so that there are four nearly equal rows of teeth in the upper part of the mouth, and two in the lower. The mode of swallowing prey is as follows:—Some of the front teeth being struck into the victim, one side of the lower jaw is thrust forward as far as the ligaments will allow, when the teeth of that side take a fresh hold, which is retained, while the other side of the jaw performs a corresponding movement; thus by the alternate advance of the two sides of the jaw, which their excessive mobility admits, and by the backward inclination of the teeth allowing the food to move much more readily in one direction than another, this is gradually drawn into the throat, forcing asunder, and dislocating, as it