Why Birds are not Killed by Eating Poisonous Fruit

Abstract

THERE is a great difference of opinion on this subject. While some maintain that birds do not eat fruits of this kind, others hold that they eat only the surrounding pulp, as of the berries of Taxus, which is perfectly harmless, whereas the seed is very poisonous; others, again, have maintained that they do not eat sufficient to be poisonous. The real fact is, I believe, that none of these statements are true, but that actually the birds eat largely of these berries, both pulp and seed, and that they very shortly afterwards eject the seeds and skins by the mouth, thus avoiding any poisonous action.