This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ... in sockets. However, there are so many exceptions and variations that one hardly realizes how many changes may be rung upon the familiar tooth plan until he studies them among fishes--teeth varying from none in the sturgeon to almost countless numbers in the pike, ossified to the jaws, set movably, or ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ... in sockets. However, there are so many exceptions and variations that one hardly realizes how many changes may be rung upon the familiar tooth plan until he studies them among fishes--teeth varying from none in the sturgeon to almost countless numbers in the pike, ossified to the jaws, set movably, or again attached to the other head bones, the throat, lips or eventhe tongue, sharp like needles or flattened together like a pavement, all of these speak to us fascinatingly of many differences of food and condition in this vast realm, although we purpose glancing at but two or three. In the more familiar sharks there are many rows of sharp, conical teeth, filling the broad mouth cavity and pointing backward so that prey is firmly held. These also from their numbers give an exceptional hold upon flesh to be torn, since the shark is a sea scavenger and eagerly attacks the dead carcasses of whales, for example. The backmost rows, while little more than rudimentary, are continually developing and pushing forward to replace the outer rows as these may wear or break. THE SAWFISH 's TEETH There is one energetic member of the shark family which carries additional teeth in an unusual place. The sawfish wears, projecting from the front of its head in much the manner of the narwhal, a broa.d blade of cartilage, which may reach a length of 6 feet, and is set on either side with strong, very sharp, slightly curved teeth. This formidable-looking weapon cannot be used for piercing since its end is blunt and rather soft, but that it is necessary for food gathering is evident if we glance at the small mouth with its enormous number of small, weak teeth, sometimes as many as fifty rows but all unfit for rough work. Indeed its method of hunting is...
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