The Mexican Pet: More ""New"" Urban Legends and Some Old Favorites

Folkloric legends defined as ""oral accounts of strange occurences'' by annotator-interpreter Brunvand often have the same theme with variations of detail, style and locale depending on the narrator. The author's diverting new collection, following The Vanishing Hitchhiker and The Choking Doberman, ranges from the bizarre, including``humorous accidents,'' to the criminal. Many tales are about animalssnakes and spiders are favoritesand several recount campus-inspired pranks. Brunvand debunks vicious rumors such as those concerning the use of aborted fetuses in beauty products, and that Asian refugees eat barbecued dogs. Some of his stories are little more than canards or gosssip-column chitchat about celebrities like Michael Jackson, legends that may not endure. Illustrations not seen by PW. (June 30pDON COYOTE Dayton O. Hyde. Arbor House, $16.95