Hoop snake
The hoop snake is a legendary creature of the United States. Its distinguishing feature was that it would grasp its tail in its jaws and roll after its prey like a wheel. It looked somewhat like the ouroboros of Greek mythology. The best way to save yourself was to jump through the hoop to confuse it. While the hoop snake has never been accepted by the scientific community, sightings are still occassionally reported. Some cryptozoologists feel that it is a distorted description of the sidewinder of the American southwest. A similar creature, called the Little Blue Snake, is known from the gold-diggers' folklore of the Ural mountains in Russia. It is a capricious spirit that points those to whom she appears to gold in the earth, but causes those of impure heart to argue and fight amongst themselves. In the story, she leads two little boys to riches, but the boys' sister mentions grown men who saw her and knifed each other before they could enjoy any of the gold. This story bears a remarkable resemblence to "The Pardoner's Tale" in Canterbury Tales
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