Martha Watson, age 8, of Grinnell, Iowa, for her question:

Are snakes awakened in the spring by thunder?

No, the snake is not awakened from his winter sleep by a spring thunderstorm. This could not be, for the snake is deaf. Experts are pretty sure that the graceful creature cannot hear anything at all, for he has no proper ears.

Mr. Snake is a cold blooded animal. His body depends upon the air and the earth for its warmth. And he is active only when warm. In cold weather he becomes slow and torpid. When winter comes, his body activities come to a full stop. Only warmth can start him going again.

You might find a hibernating snake hidden in a den or a hollow tree. He would seem quite dead. But suppose you took him to a warm room. Slowly, slowly he would come to life ‑ even in the dead of winter.

It is warmth that wakes the snake from his winter sleep. The warm air of spring penetrates his winter den and slowly, slowly his body becomes active again.