PLANTS THAT ARE ATHLETES 85 



Not the least among the various sports of plants 

 is dancing. Since the earliest times dancing has 

 been associated with flowers. To such an extent 

 is this true that among the old Egyptians even 

 their religious dances were carried out largely by 

 means of garlands. There is a comparatively 

 modern Egyptian dance called "The Bee" in which 

 there are numerous wreaths of flowers. The weird 

 dances of the East Africans also were aided by 

 flowers. How often in literature do we see ref- 

 erence to dancing flowers, such as "the dancing 

 Columbine"! A strange plant of the East Indies, 

 known to botanists as Mantisia saltona, has gained 

 for itself the name of "Dancing Girls." This is, 

 no doubt, due to its supposed resemblance to a 

 woman. The name saltona is derived from the 

 Latin word meaning a dancer. 



There are some strange seeds known as "Mexican 

 jumping beans." These seeds are the fruit of a 

 small shrub which grows in Mexico, Central and 

 South America. The seeds are triangular in shape, 

 and for about six months they are continually 

 jumping and jerking, or rolling from side to side. 

 This lively movement is caused by a fat little worm 

 which inhabits each bean. As the worm grows he 

 cuts a door in his bean house and spins over it a 

 portiere of silk ; then he curls up for his last sleep ; 



