Sandra Mize, age 13, of  Ga., for her question:

Is there such a think as a hoop snake?

The hoop snake is a fanciful character who is said to have a method of traveling all his own. They say he begins his journey by grasping his tail in his teeth, thereby forming a circle with his snaky body. He then smoothes out any kinks or snaky curves and holds himself rigid in a perfectly round hoop. Somehow he then manages to tip this hoop on end. When this miracle is achieved, he starts to bowl along like a cartwheel.

This is a wonderful idea, but no snaky has ever thought of it. Even if one did, it is doubtful whether he could use this fantastic method of travel. For he is built to use a complex set of muscles for slithering along the ground. These, muscles could not possibly be used to help him travel like a hoop. Besides, he needs to know where he is going and a hoop tends to get out of control, especially when rolling down a slope.

It's too bid, but them is no hoop snake, no snake who travels bowling along on a one‑wheeled bike. This fanciful creature belongs in the zoo of Never‑never‑land, along with the jackalope, the unicorn, the medusa and the dragon. He was invented by some person with a sense of humor and not too much know‑how about the muscular system of a snake.