SNAKES AND SNAKE STORIES 431 



snake according to the best authorities wears a 

 horn on the end of its tail. No one has correctly 

 described its color, markings, or teeth, but they 

 have all been particular to describe the horns. 

 Hoop-snakes frequent hilly countries ; I don't know 

 how it gets up a hill, and have never seen any de- 

 scription of this act. Somehow or other it is 

 always at the top of a hill, and prefers one with 

 a steep road. When it sees anyone approaching, 

 it sticks its tail in its mouth, makes a hoop of it- 

 self and commences to roll down hill with a greater 

 speed than a coasting bicycle. This is the time for 

 you to wake up; if the snake reaches you, it will 

 let go its tail, and 



STRIKE YOU WITH THE POISONOUS HORN 



with fatal results. Down South when a hoop-snake 

 rolls down hill and is disappointed in not finding 

 any victims, it will strike a tree with its horn, and 

 the tree immediately withers and dies. You will 

 find plenty of people to vouch for the truthfulness 

 of this account, and many who would be willing to 

 make affidavit that they have seen one of these 

 snakes. Nevertheless the snake and the mermaid, 

 and the devil's darning-needle that sews up your 

 ears, the swallows that sleep in the mud all win- 

 ter, the poisonous swifts and centaurs belong in the 

 same nature books with the unicorns and fiery 

 dragons. These are all exceedingly interesting 

 creatures, but they must be understood as existing 

 only in Nemo's Dreamland. 



