Lyssa Arzani, age 10, of Charlotte, N.C., for her question:

ARE ELEPHANTS REALLY AFRAID OF MICE?

Not many people can tell us the correct weight or height of an elephant. But almost anybody seems eager to tell us that an elephant is afraid of mice and that an elephant never forgets. However, neither of these fascinating bits of information is true. A big elephant is not scared of a little mouse  and his memory is no better than anybody else's.

    Zookeepers tell us that mice do not bother elephants at all. They can probably smell them, but it is not likely they see them. In any case, we are told that mice often run around in the elephant's supply of hay. The big fellow seems not to notice and pays no attention at all. Certainly a mouse does not cause him to throw a fit or fall down in a faint.