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 saltoria, has gained 
for itself the name of “Dancing Girls.” This is, 
no doubt, due to its supposed resemblance to a 
woman. The name saltoria 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; 
