The whole seem to
be in a state of perennial renewal to compensate for wear and tear. As
those of the front row are broken or worn down, the next succeeding row
occupies the frontal position. The teeth are deeply set in the bony base
of the inverted palate, or rather obtrude but slightly above the
surface, their office being to break down and grind to powder flinty
food.
The outward and visible teeth of the male are apparently given as
weapons of defence, since they do not occur in the female, which has
four back teeth. From their prominent position the teeth of the male
must also be used for grasping and levering or pulling steadfast
limpets from rocks. They needs must be hard and have strength as well
as science at the back of them, for a limpet can resist a pulling
force of nearly 2000 times its own weight. The sutures of the jaws
of the fish enable it to accommodate its grip to the various sizes
of limpets, and to take a fair and square hold, while the lower jaw
seems to act as a fulcrum when the leverage is applied. But the
exterior jaws and teeth are devoid of interest, compared with the
interior set, which form an ideal pulverising apparatus.
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