Quoting again from "Birds of the High Country" edited by H.J. Frith, (Reed,
1969).
At page 381:
"The muscular stomach or gizzard present in most birds has, in the
Mistletoe-bird, practically disappeared and the whole digestive system has
become an even duct enabling the large numbers of mistletoe-berries to pass
quickly through the bird. Experiments have shown that mistletoe berries may
be consumed and the seeds voided by a Mistletoe-bird within twenty-five
minutes. The seeds of mistletoe berries when voided are not harmed and are
very sticky. If lodged on the branch of a suitable tree they remain there
and usually germinate."
"Within twenty-five minutes"? Sounds like chronic diarrhoea.
And why does the sticky seed stick to the branch rather than the feather
fringed cloaca of the bird? Dean? Carol? Anyone?
[You are sure which end of the bird you saw being wiped on the branch,
Carol? :-) Yes, I see you are. Who can blame the bird for not
swallowing!]
Syd
PS. Thinking in terms of relative size - seed and bird - I reckon that an
equivalent for humans would be mango seeds. Not swallowing is much the
wiser!
--------------------------------------------
Birding-Aus is now on the Web at
www.birding-aus.org
--------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message 'unsubscribe
birding-aus' (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
