"If you look at it you will see, in front of the upper jaw, two long, cur ved, sharp-pointed teeth.
These we call the fangs. We cannot see them whenthe mouth is shut, for these teeth are movable, andthey are then drawn up, and lodged in the gum. "We sometimes call them poison fangs, but this isnot quite correct, for there is no poison in the fangs themselves. Teacher showed us that the poison comes from two bags lodged in the back part of the mouth.
"The fangs themselves are really hollow tubes, and when the snake is about to dart at its victim, not only do the fangs show themselves, but the hollow tubes inside are filled with poison, which the poison-bags pour into them for use.
"These snakes always approach their victim witha stealthy, gliding, noiseless movement, until within striking distance. Then they suddenly dart forward like lightning, and one bite with those fangs is quite enough.
