Page:Natural History, Reptiles.djvu/128

120 half of the tail is ringed with alternate bands of the same colours.

The Teguixin is spread over the greater part of South America, from Guiana to Brazil; it is also attributed to the West Indies, but we think erroneously, though it may possibly occur in

Trinidad. Our knowledge of its habits is principally derived from the great naturalist of South America, D’Azara. He asserts that though it readily takes to the water as a refuge from danger, it does not swim, but sinks and walks along at the bottom. It fights with resolute courage when attacked or captured, biting with great severity and maintaining its grasp with inflexible